TY - JOUR
T1 - Using soccer to build confidence and increase HCT uptake among adolescent girls
T2 - a mixed-methods study of an HIV prevention programme in South Africa
AU - Hershow, Rebecca Beth
AU - Gannett, Katherine
AU - Merrill, Jamison
AU - Kaufman, Elise Braunschweig
AU - Barkley, Chris
AU - DeCelles, Jeff
AU - Harrison, Abigail
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by Imago Dei; the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF); MAC AIDS Fund; USAID-New Partners Initiative (NPI) under Grant GHO-A-00-09-00002-00; USAID-Public-Private Partnership (PPP) under Grant AID-674-A-12-00007; and USAID-Global Development Alliance (GDA) under Grant AID-OAA-A-12-00085.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Taylor & Francis.
PY - 2015/9/14
Y1 - 2015/9/14
N2 - HIV prevalence is eight times higher in young South African women compared to men. Grassroot Soccer (GRS) developed SKILLZ Street (SS), a single-sex intervention using soccer to improve self-efficacy, HIV-related knowledge and HIV counselling and testing (HCT) uptake among girls aged 12–16 years. Female community leaders – ‘coaches’ – deliver 10 two-hour sessions bi-weekly. Attendance and HCT data were collected at 38 programmes across five GRS sites during 24 months in 2011–2012. A total of 514 participants completed a 16-item pre/post questionnaire. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with participants (n = 11 groups) and coaches (n = 5 groups), and coded for analysis using NVivo. Of 1953 participants offered HCT, 68.5% tested. Overall, significant pre/post improvement was observed (p < 0.001). FGDs suggest participants: valued coach–participant relationship; improved self-efficacy, HIV-related knowledge, communication and changed perception of soccer as a male-only sport; and increased awareness of testing's importance. Results suggest SS helps at-risk girls access HCT and HIV-related knowledge while promoting self-confidence.
AB - HIV prevalence is eight times higher in young South African women compared to men. Grassroot Soccer (GRS) developed SKILLZ Street (SS), a single-sex intervention using soccer to improve self-efficacy, HIV-related knowledge and HIV counselling and testing (HCT) uptake among girls aged 12–16 years. Female community leaders – ‘coaches’ – deliver 10 two-hour sessions bi-weekly. Attendance and HCT data were collected at 38 programmes across five GRS sites during 24 months in 2011–2012. A total of 514 participants completed a 16-item pre/post questionnaire. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with participants (n = 11 groups) and coaches (n = 5 groups), and coded for analysis using NVivo. Of 1953 participants offered HCT, 68.5% tested. Overall, significant pre/post improvement was observed (p < 0.001). FGDs suggest participants: valued coach–participant relationship; improved self-efficacy, HIV-related knowledge, communication and changed perception of soccer as a male-only sport; and increased awareness of testing's importance. Results suggest SS helps at-risk girls access HCT and HIV-related knowledge while promoting self-confidence.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84939562823&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84939562823&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/17430437.2014.997586
DO - 10.1080/17430437.2014.997586
M3 - Article
C2 - 26997967
AN - SCOPUS:84939562823
SN - 1743-0437
VL - 18
SP - 1009
EP - 1022
JO - Sport in Society
JF - Sport in Society
IS - 8
ER -