Abstract B033: Increasing sexual transmitted diseases and promoting condom use among youth: Evaluation of year 2 data from the Proud Teens of Philly (PTOP) program

Abstract

Abstract Background: Rates of sexually transmitted disease (STD) and teen pregnancy are much higher in Philadelphia than the national average. Proud Teens of Philly (PTOP) is a sexual health program aimed at reducing the high teen birth rate and STD cases in Philadelphia. The program provides sexual health education to high-risk youth ages 12-19 in the Greater Philadelphia area. The materials used to implement the PTOP program, “Making Proud Choices”, is an evidence-based curriculum that was reviewed and tailored for its cultural and age appropriateness, and medical accuracy. Methods: During the second year of the program, PTOP was implemented virtually and in-person to 411 youth in Philadelphia schools and community-based organizations. Community-based participatory research (CBPR) strategies and systems thinking approach were used in site and participant recruitment, program implementation, and evaluation. The educational content consisted of 8 modules of the “Making Proud Choices” curriculum. Pre and post surveys were administered to participants at the first and last implementation sessions, respectively. During Year 2, 391 pre-surveys and 208 post-surveys were collected. Results: There were significant increases in knowledge about fluids that transmit HIV (pre=23.47 post=25.07 t=4.65 p=<.0001), behaviors that transmit HIV (pre=10.86 post= 19.05 t=9.37 p=<.0001), condoms preventing pregnancy (pre=59.57 post=76.41 t=2.8 p=0.0057) and condoms preventing HIV (pre=46.29 post=68.92 t=2.98 p=0.0035). There was also significant increase in knowledge about affirmative consent before sexual behaviors (pre=20.05 post= 0.42 t=3.71 p=0.0003) and preparedness to use condoms (pre=39.34 post=59.19 t=2.43 p=0.0169) Conclusion: PTOP, a sexual health program was effective in increasing knowledge of STD and condom use among high-risk teens in Philadelphia. We will discuss the use of CBPR strategies and systems thinking in the design and implementation of this program. Citation Format: Jade A. Truehart, Ra'Ann Merceir, Aisha Bhimla, Yin Tan, Sabrina Liao, Min Qi Wang, Jane Sileo, Maya Allen, Grace X. Ma. Increasing sexual transmitted diseases and promoting condom use among youth: Evaluation of year 2 data from the Proud Teens of Philly (PTOP) program [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 15th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2022 Sep 16-19; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr B033.