TY  - JOUR
AB  - Purpose Ukraine has one of the fastest growing HIV epidemics globally. Due to their engagement in high-risk behaviors, adolescents and emerging adults involved with the penitentiary system are at a particularly high risk of HIV-acquisition. To address the epidemic, young males (aged 14 to 20 years) in penitentiary institutions across Ukraine participated in a ten-week, group-based HIV-prevention intervention (STEPS). The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approach The authors analyzed clinical and programmatic services data collected as part of an evaluation of the STEPS intervention. Paired t-tests and χ2 were used to examine pre- and post-intervention differences in HV knowledge, attitudes, and risk behaviors and alcohol and other drug use knowledge.Findings In total, 105 male youths participated in the ten-session STEPS intervention. At baseline, males reported high frequencies of risk behaviors (e.g. unprotected sexual activity, injection drug use), moderate levels of HIV-related knowledge, and negative attitudes toward HIV and people living with HIV. At follow-up (immediately following the last STEPS session), participants’ HIV-related knowledge substantially improved and participants tended to have more favorable attitudes toward HIV.Research limitations/implications Outcomes suggest that knowledge and attitudes about HIV among Ukrainian incarcerated youth can improve as a result of group-based HIV-prevention intervention.Originality/value In Ukraine, individuals involved with the criminal justice system are one of the populations most-at-risk for HIV; criminal justice-involved adolescents and young adults are disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic. Research among this sub-population is limited. This study aims to address this gap by evaluating an on-going group-based HIV-prevention program designed to reduce adolescent risk of HIV.
VL  - 14
IS  - 2
SN  - 1744-9200
DO  - 10.1108/IJPH-02-2017-0007
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPH-02-2017-0007
AU  - Dauria Emily
AU  - Tolou-Shams Marina
AU  - Skipalska Halyna
AU  - Bachmaha Mariya
AU  - Hodgdon Sara
PY  - 2018
Y1  - 2018/01/01
TI  - Outcomes of the “STEPS” HIV prevention training program for young males in the penitentiary institution, Ukraine
T2  - International Journal of Prisoner Health
PB  - Emerald Publishing Limited
SP  - 101
EP  - 108
Y2  - 2024/04/24
ER  -