The Effect of Theory-Based HIV/AIDS Educational Program on Preventive Behaviors Among Female Adolescents in Tehran: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: adolescents are increasingly at risks of hiv infection through high-risk sexual behaviors. this paper aimed to assess the effectiveness of a hiv/aids educational intervention among female adolescents in tehran. methods: a randomized controlled trial was conducted among high school girls aged 12-16 years studying in tehran in 2016-17. the sample was selected using multistage random cluster sampling. four schools per district were randomly selected using probability-proportional to size. adolescents were randomly assigned to the experimental (n=289) and the control (n=289) groups. the theory of planned behavior (tpb) was the basis of both the intervention and the evaluation phase. both experimental and control groups completed a questionnaire designed for hiv related behaviors for female adolescents (hbqfa) at baseline and after six months follow up. a theory-based educational program was implemented for the experimental group. results: the mean age of participants was 14.1 years (sd=0.96). in the experimental group, significant improvements were shown in adolescents’ hiv knowledge (31.9%, 95% ci: 28.8- 35.0), attitudes towards hiv (16.6%, 95% ci=14.4-18.8), subjective norm (16.8%, 95% ci=12.9-20.6) and perceived behavioral control (19.1%, 95% ci=16.2-22.1), perceived parental support (17%, 95% ci=13.8-20.2), behavioral intention to prevent hiv (19%, 95% ci=16.3-21.6), and hiv preventive behavior (17.3%, 95% ci=13.9-20.6) (p<0.001). conclusion: theory-based educational intervention on hiv/aids prevention can significantly protect adolescents from misconceptions, wrong attitudes and risky behaviors and unsupportive social environment that expose them to greater hiv risk. health policy -makers are advised to consider effective training programs related to hiv/aids prevention behaviors in the school system.