An Abstinence and Safer Sex Intervention for Adolescents Attending the Public Sexually Transmitted Infection Clinic in Singapore

Abstract

PurposeThe objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a behavioral intervention in increasing secondary abstinence and safer sex among heterosexually active adolescents aged 16–19 years. MethodsThis was a randomized controlled trial conducted at the only national sexually transmitted infection clinic in Singapore. The intervention focused on information giving, motivation, and skills building to abstain or practice safer sex. The outcome measures were self-reported secondary abstinence, consistent condom use, and keeping to one partner in the past 6 months over a 12-month period. We recruited 688 adolescents, with 337 participants receiving intervention and 351 receiving standard care (control). ResultsAt the 12-month follow-up, 187 (56%) intervention participants and 189 (54%) control participants were retained. Over the 12-month period, the intervention had a significant effect on secondary abstinence in adolescent boys (42% vs. 27%, adjusted risk ratio [aRR] 1.80, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.29–2.34) but not in adolescent girls (21% vs. 24%, aRR 1.10, 95% CI .68–1.66). Consistent condom use was higher among intervention adolescent girls than control adolescent girls (40% vs. 20%, aRR 2.01, 95% CI 1.32–2.82), but this effect was not evident in adolescent boys (51% vs. 43%, aRR 1.27, 95% CI .78–1.88). Intervention effect on keeping to one partner was evident in both adolescent boys (76% vs. 45%, aRR 1.35, 95% CI 1.06–1.50) and adolescent girls (79% vs. 65%, aRR 1.20, 95% CI 1.02–1.23). ConclusionsAn intervention targeting adolescents in a clinical care setting did achieve an increase in secondary abstinence in adolescent boys, consistent condom use in adolescent girls, and keeping to one partner in both genders at 1-year assessment.