Description: The purpose of this data collection was to measure change in attitudes, knowledge and behaviour of Grade 8 and Grade 9 learners on a set of pre-identified indicators in relation to peer education and HIV/AIDS. This is the third data set obtained from three phases of collections which were analysed to explore whether peer education in our sample of schools had achieved the set objectives. It contains 286 variables and 2230 cases. The following topics were covered throughout the three sets of data collection: respondent's demographic data, respondent's school data, exposure to Peer Education, future orientation, sensation seeking and risk taking behaviour, drug and alcohol use, sexual efficacy, sexual experience, HIV/AIDS knowledge, HIV/AIDS attitudes, HIV/AIDS behaviours and intentions, decision making, healthy and unhealthy relationships and gender and social support. Abstract: The purpose of this data collection was to measure change in attitudes, knowledge and behaviour of Grade 8 and Grade 9 learners on a set of pre-identified indicators in relation to peer education and HIV/AIDS. The data obtained from three phases was collated and analysed to explore whether peer education in our sample of schools had achieved the set objectives. A comparison was drawn at baseline between the intervention and control samples, some differences were found between the two groups which suggest that there may be differences that were not apparent during the random selection process.

At baseline and Time 1, the intervention schools were compared, the results indicated that the interventions produced statistically better outcomes with regard to future orientation, self-efficacy, knowledge regarding HIV transmission, knowledge regarding HIV prevention and knowledge in terms of a healthy relationship. Intervention schools were then compared between baseline and Time 2. Results indicated that over a longer period of time the intervention yielded statistically better outcomes with regard to self-efficacy and knowledge of HIV transmission. These results at Time 2 are only statistically different from those at Time 1 with regard to self-efficacy.

Self-completion

Grade 8 and 9 learners and peer educators in the Western Cape province public schools.

The quantitative sample consisted of peer learners and peer educators from each of the four districts in the Western Cape. Two main criteria informed site selection:

Schools were selected proportionally according to the number of schools who were implementing peer education in the province, and in each district. There were 236 schools in this category. Schools were selected proportionally according to the number of implementing organisations who were working in the province to implement peer education. There were eight implementing organisations.

Overall, 236 schools (approximately 120 Grade 8 learners per school x 236 schools = 28,320 Grade 8 learners) were targeted to receive peer education over three years. A baseline evaluation of schools randomized to an intervention or control school forms the basis for comparing outcome data. Schools who did not receive peer education from implementing organisations formed part of the control group.

As per the proposal 2216 learners were to receive the Peer Education Intervention and approximately 960 learners in control schools. At baseline, 2225 learners were enrolled in the intervention and completed the questionnaire. 679 learners were surveyed as the control sample.