Examining long-term effects of Cuídate-a sexual risk reduction program in Mexican youth

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effectiveness of a safer sex program (Cuidate) on sexual behavior, use of condoms, and use of other contraceptives among Mexican youth 48 months after the intervention. METHODS: A total of 708 or 85 percent of those who participated in the original randomized control study (n = 829) were assessed in the 48-month follow-up. Each participant completed a questionnaire on sexual behavior. RESULTS: Findings indicated that adolescents who participated in the Cuidate program were more likely to be older at first sex (odds ratio [OR], 1.27; 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 0.41-2.12; P 0.05) and to use condoms at first sex (OR, 1.75; 95 percent CI, 1.14-2.69; P 0.05) or some other type of contraception at first sex (OR, 1.53; 95 percent CI, 1.00-2.33; P 0.05) than those in the control group. Effects of the intervention on consistent condom use, condom use at last sex, and number of sexual partners were not significant. Gender did not moderate any intervention effects. Social desirability moderated the effect of the intervention on age at first sex. CONCLUSIONS: Results demonstrate the efficacy of Cuidate among Mexican adolescents. Future research, policy, and practice efforts should be directed at sustaining safe sex practices across adolescents' developmental and relationship trajectory.(AU)