Peer Education Programs

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Recognizing the importance of social relationships to adolescent behaviour, social network analysis is an analytic technique that is being used with increasing frequency to characterize youth personal networks, interpersonal communication, and group norms. A better understanding of these networks and environments can allow researchers and program planners to utilize the natural flow of communication within groups to more effectively plan and implement health promotion and social change interventions (Bond, 2003). Peer education programs are a common approach to try to affect social and behavioural change in adolescents (Campbell, 2005; Cartagena et al, 2005; Caron, Godin, Otis, and Lambert, 2004; Agha & Van Rossem, 2004; Kinsler, Sneed, Moriksy & Ang, 2004; Visser, 2007; Merakou & Kourea-Kremastinou, 2006). Peer education programs, which use individuals specifically selected from the target population to act as educators, role models, and leaders, are generally the preferred approach for health promotion interventions when working with adolescent populations. This is due to a few key factors, namely that the approach can be developed and implemented in a manner that is culturally appropriate, community-based, and widely accepted by target audiences (Ross & Williams, 2002; Campbell, 2005). An additional advantage is the perceived credibility of the peer educators in the eyes of the target group. These individuals are integrated within the target group and can identify with the community of interest. The use of social network analysis (SNA) to identify natural opinion leaders, perceived norms and behaviours, and characteristics of peer influences before the development of an intervention program is being reported more and m... ... middle of paper ... ...b-Saharan Africa is the focal point for the worldwide epidemic of HIV/AIDS. Uganda is one country in East Africa that has demonstrated some success in addressing the epidemic and reducing the burden of HIV/AIDS on some demographics of the population. However, one of the more promising interventions that addresses the needs of adolescents, peer education, has not been widely used in Uganda (Mayega, personal communication, May 2008), though recent national policy officially supports this type of endeavour (Uganda Ministry of Education and Sports, 2006). The primary purpose of this study is to conduct a social network analysis of youth in senior secondary schools in the Kabarole District of western Uganda. The goal is to inform future efforts to implement peer education programs in the rural African setting targeting sexual health promotion and HIV prevention.

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