HIV-Related Knowledge, Behaviors, and Exposure to the Life Orientation Curriculum among Grade-8 Learners in KwaZulu-Natal

Author(s): MEASURE Evaluation

Year: 2017

Abstract:

In 2015, the South Africa Department of Basic Education (DBE), with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), invested in developing and piloting scripted lesson plans (SLPs) to increase the uniformity of the implementation of the sexuality education sections of a Life Orientation (LO) curriculum for learners. The Education Development Center (EDC) began piloting the SLP in the 2016 school year.

With support from USAID, and in partnership with DBE, MEASURE Evaluation is conducting an impact evaluation of the activity before its national rollout. The evaluation examines the effect of the SLP on herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) incidence and the change in prevalence of pregnancy among a cohort of Grade-8 female learners as they progress to Grade 10. The study also examines the secondary outcomes of school retention, knowledge, attitudes, and risk behaviors of male and female learners in Grades 8, 9, and 10. The study employs a two-arm, stratified, cluster design with data collection at baseline, midline, and end line. Data are being collected from five education districts in two provinces. This fact sheet presents baseline results from 1,988 Grade-8 female learners and 1,435 Grade-8 male learners enrolled in 62 study schools in KwaZulu-Natal in the 2016 school year.