Assessing Sexual Behavior Among Haitian Protestant Youth

1. Sexual behavior among Protestant youth. • Using a KAP study to assess the impact of traditional moral values on the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Haiti • February 2004

2. Authors • Gaillard, Eric * • Morquette, Hubert ** • Antoine, Jean-Robert * • Eustache, Laurent * • * POLICY Project • ** World Relief

3. Background • Are traditional moral values (abstinence & fidelity) rejected by young practicing protestants? • Do they engage in sexual behavior similar to youth who are not religiously active? • Are parents and health ministers unresponsive to their needs? • Do lack of information about sexuality lead to sexual contact at an early age?

4. Methods • Information collected among young practicing protestants • Demographic data • Knowledge • Mode of transmission of HIV • Knowledge of STI’s • Attitude • Youth and adults • Practices: • Behavior • Religious engagement

5. Methods • Young practicing protestants: 1213 • Male: 538 • Female: 631 • Age: 10 to 25 • Protestant churches: 52 • Criteria: Economic • Economic • Intellectual • Metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince

6. KAP study • Demographic data • Knowledge • Attitude • Behavior

7. Geographic Distribution

8. Gender

9. Age group N/A 26+ 21-25 17-20 13-16 10-12

10. Education N/D Professional University Secondary Primary

11. Marital Status N/A Separated Living together Divorced Maried Single

12. Participation in youth Groups N/D Activity driven Never Always Sometimes

13. Going to Church N/A Other Once in while Almost every day 3 times a week 2 times a week Every Sunday

14. Praying and reading the bible N/A Others Sometimes If bible available Never If have time Every day

15. KAP Study • Demographic data • Knowledge • Attitude • Behavior

16. Source of information on sexuality N/A > 1 response Other Television Book Radio Teacher Pastor Parents: Father/Mother Friend

17. Best source of information on sexuality

18. Is Syphilis an STI ?

19. Is HIV transmitted by hand shake?

20. Is HIV transmitted through sex contact?

21. Is AIDS a divine Curse?

22. Is AIDS an uncanny disease?

23. Probability of dying if someone gets AIDS

24. KAP Study • Demographic data • Knowledge • Attitude • Practice

25. Discussion of sexuality with friends

26. Discussion of sexuality with Parents

27. KAP Study • Données démographiques • Connaissance en matière de sexualité • Attitude • Behavior

28. Sexual experience

29. Age of initial sexual contact No Response Forgot Not Applicable 26 + 20 – 25 15 – 19 10 – 14 < 10

30. Sexual experience by age 26+ 21-25 17-20 13-16 10-12

31. Sexual experience & going to church

32. Number of lifetime sex contact

33. Number of lifetime sexual partners

34. History of an STI

35. Number of sex contacts and condom use (40%) among male No response Many times Twice Once N/A

36. Number of sex contacts and condom use (32%) among female No response Many times Twice Once N/A

37. Condom use by age 26 + 21 – 25 17 – 20 13 – 16 10 - 12

38. Condom use & going to church

39. Condom use and youth group membership

40. History of pregnancy: 19%

41. Pregnancy & marital status

42. Pregnancy & age group

43. Pregnancy & visits to church

44. KAP Study • Données démographiques • Connaissance en matière de sexualité • Attitude • Comportements

45. Young practicing protestants

46. Knowledge

47. Practice

48. Conclusion • In spite of traditional moral values • Going to church • Praying and reading the bible • Many risk factors were present • Leading to spread of HIV • A better response needed to be formulated • Delay age of sexual onset • Improve dialogue • Provide reliable source of information about sexuality

49. Sexual behavior among Protestant youth. • Using a KAP study to assess the impact of traditional moral values on the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Haiti • February 2004