"What Doesn't Work" for Preventing STDs:
Sexuality Education Programs

Project SNAPP (Skills and kNowledge for AIDS and Pregnancy Prevention) is a pregnancy and AIDS prevention program for middle school students. Seventh grade students attend 8 sessions of Project SNAPP and participate in activities that help increase their knowledge of pregnancy and STDs as well as build skills to avoid risky sexual situations.

Project SNAPP uses both social learning theory and a health belief model to help students avoid contracting an STD or becoming pregnant. The program uses discussions and interactive games to help students recognize social influences on them and uses peer educators - 70 percent of whom were either teen mothers or HIV positive - to help the seventh graders realize that they are not immune to an STD or pregnancy.

There was no significant difference in delaying first sex or in increased condom or birth control pill use at last sex among those who were sexually active. No differences emerged between the program and control groups regarding frequency of sex, number of partners, incidences of unwanted sex, or use of alcohol or other drugs prior to last sex. However, at the 17-month follow-up, the percentage of students who reported using birth control pills the last time they had sex was lower in the program group than in the control group (23.7 percent vs. 35.1 percent).