Long-Term Impact of the MEMA kwa Vijana Adolescent Health Intervention
Author Information
Author(s): Aoife M. Doyle, Helen A. Weiss, Kaballa Maganja, Saidi Kapiga, Sheena McCormack, Deborah Watson-Jones, John Changalucha, Richard J. Hayes, David A. Ross
Primary Institution: London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Hypothesis
The intervention's impact varies by gender, age, marital status, years of exposure, and time since last exposure.
Conclusion
The intervention had a broad impact on young people in rural Mwanza, with some evidence of a dose-response effect on knowledge and attitudes.
Supporting Evidence
- The intervention improved knowledge and attitudes towards sexual health.
- Participants with more years of exposure showed better outcomes.
- Results suggest the need for ongoing support and training for intervention delivery.
Takeaway
This study shows that a health program for young people in Tanzania helped them learn about sex and health, and it worked for many different types of young people.
Methodology
A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 13,814 young people who attended intervention or comparison schools, analyzing data using cluster-level methods.
Potential Biases
Potential reporting bias due to self-reported data and recall bias regarding intervention exposure.
Limitations
The study may have faced reporting bias and selection bias, and it was not powered to detect small subgroup effects.
Participant Demographics
Participants were aged 15-30, predominantly from the Sukuma ethnic group, with a median age of 22 for males and 21 for females.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
(1.01, 1.23)
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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