Cuídate! Curriculum Empowers Latino/Hispanic Male Teenagers in Negotiating Abstinence and Condom Use - Evaluating Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Project (TPPP) in Maryvale Community at Arizona

Chih-Chien Huang, Arizona State University
Paul Holley, Touchstone Behavioral Health

The authors present pilot study findings demonstrating the effectiveness of an evidence-based program for Latino youth (age 13-18) related to HIV/AIDS and teen pregnancy prevention. ¡Cuídate!, or Take Care of Yourself!, is currently being replicated in the Maryvale community of West Phoenix, Arizona. The ¡Cuídate! curriculum was designed to lower the incidence and prevalence of teenage pregnancy and the risk of HIV/AIDS among Latino youths ages 13 to 18. This study examines gender differences in knowledge about HIV transmission and prevention as well as the ability to negotiate abstinence or condom use prior to and after implementation of the ¡Cuídate! program. Participants were 76 female and 57 male high school students who responded to questions before and after the program was implemented. The program was shown to only empower male students with negotiating skills to reduce risky sexual behaviors. Higher sex knowledge scores have no effect on the negotiating skills among both female and male students.