Examining long-term effects of Cuídate-a sexual risk reduction program in Mexican youth Examen de los efectos a largo plazo de Cuídate, un programa de reducción del riesgo sexual en jóvenes mexicanos

• Main Authors: Antonia M. Villarruel, Yan Zhou, Esther C. Gallegos, David L. Ronis
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English; Spanish; Portuguese
• Published: Pan American Health Organization 2010
• Subjects: Conducta del adolescente; conducta sexual; salud del adolescente; conducta de reducción del riesgo; estudios de seguimiento; estudios de intervención; ensayo clínico controlado aleatorio; México; Adolescent behavior; sexual behavior; adolescent health; risk reduction behavior; follow-up studies; intervention studies; randomized controlled trial; Mexico; Medicine; R; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270; Alta; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doaj.org/article/88297dfbe65040a5bd4099a18dcd3446

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effectiveness of a safer sex program (Cuídate) on sexual behavior, use of condoms, and use of other contraceptives among Mexican youth 48 months after the intervention. METHODS: A total of 708 or 85% of those who participated in the original randomized control study (n = 829) were assessed in the 48-month follow-up. Each participant completed a questionnaire on sexual behavior. RESULTS: Findings indicated that adolescents who participated in the Cuídate program were more likely to be older at first sex (odds ratio [OR], 1.27; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.41-2.12; P < 0.05) and to use condoms at first sex (OR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.14-2.69; P < 0.05) or some other type of contraception at first sex (OR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.00-2.33; P < 0.05) than those in the control group. Effects of the intervention on consistent condom use, condom use at last sex, and number of sexual partners were not significant. Gender did not moderate any intervention effects. Social desirability moderated the effect of the intervention on age at first sex. CONCLUSIONS: Results demonstrate the efficacy of Cuídate among Mexican adolescents. Future research, policy, and practice efforts should be directed at sustaining safe sex practices across adolescents' developmental and relationship trajectory. OBJETIVOS: Examinar la eficacia de un programa de promoción de actividad sexual de menor riesgo (Cuídate) en cuanto al comportamiento sexual, el uso de condones y el uso de otros anticonceptivos en jóvenes mexicanos, 48 meses después de la intervención. MÉTODOS: En el seguimiento después de 48 meses, se evaluó un total de 708 (85%) de los que participaron en el estudio de control aleatorizado original (n = 829). Cada participante respondió a un cuestionario sobre su comportamiento sexual. RESULTADOS: Los resultados indicaron que los adolescentes que participaron en el programa "Cuídate" tenían una probabilidad más alta de tener una edad mayor en la primera relación sexual (razón de posibilidades [OR]: 1,27; intervalo ...