Ripple Effect on Young People under Adolescent Peer Education

INTRODUCTION: The authors implemented the “Creation of a Healthy Lifestyle by Healthcare Professionals and Adolescent Peer Leaders” project for three years. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the awareness and knowledge on health reached the young people in the communities by adolescent implementing peer education activity in rural area in the United Mexican States.

METHODS: The subjects are residents between the ages of 12 and 69 who reside in the districts that are under the jurisdiction of the health departments of three locations in the rural area of the Poza Rica Health District, and 50% of all households in each district were randomly chosen. The subjects received an interview before and after the project. Among the results obtained, those between the ages of 12 and 19 were taken as subjects of this study.

RESULTS: The rate of those who know the peer education activity increased from 29.5% to 53.4% (p<0.05). The degree of interest in sexually transmitted diseases and contraception significantly increased (p<0.01). As for knowledge, the number of correct answers regarding sexually transmitted diseases decreased after the activity, but the number of correct answers regarding contraception significantly increased.

CONCLUSIONS: As a result of this project, it is assumed that the awareness of the young people in these communities for health was increased and, though limited, their knowledge on health was improved through the adolescent peer education activity. The possibility of not only direct impact, but also indirect impact on the young people in the communities were suggested by the project.