Short-term effects of a violence-prevention curriculum on knowledge of dating violence among high school students in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Abstract

This study assessed whether a violence-prevention curriculum was associated with increased knowledge of dating violence (DV) among students in grades 10–12 in two high schools in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. A one-group pretest–posttest study was conducted from November to December 2013. Two hundred and nine students with non-missing data completed a pretest exam and a posttest exam five weeks later. Multivariable logistic and simple linear regression models were used to test for differences in knowledge outcomes over time and interactive associations, with controls for student and school characteristics. Pretest levels of knowledge of DV were low. The analysis revealed that the probability of each binary DV knowledge outcome and the adjusted number of correctly identified DV myths and facts were significantly higher at posttest than at pretest. Gender differences were observed, with female students having a significantly higher probability than male students of knowing two warning signs of DV perpetration and a significantly higher number of correctly identified DV myths and facts. Being taught the curriculum by a female teacher was positively associated with knowledge of two warning signs of DV perpetration, two ways to help friends in abusive relationships, and two ways to protect oneself from sexual assault. However, having a female teacher was negatively associated with the number of correctly identified DV myths and facts, especially at posttest. The findings were favorable for the adaptation and adoption of the curriculum by other schools in Haiti in order to increase awareness of DV and its prevention, and called for examination of factors underlying gender differences.

Keywords:

• Communication
• Dating violence
• Gender differences
• Haiti
• Prevention
• School-based programs
• Youth

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge the hard work and dedication demonstrated by all members of the research team and all those who were involved in curriculum implementation.

Disclaimer statements

Contributors Gage conceptualized, obtained funding for, and designed the study. Honoré and Deleon led teacher training and oversaw curriculum implementation and data collection. Gage had primarily responsibility for data analysis and drafting of the initial manuscript. All authors were involved in data interpretation and critical review of the manuscript for important intellectual content. All authors gave approval for submission of the final manuscript for consideration for publication.

Conflict of interest The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest or competing interests associated with the present study. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the U.S. government.

Ethics approval Local research protocol review and study authorization were provided by the Ministère de l'Education Nationale et de la Formation Professionnelle, Direction Départementale d'Education de l'Ouest (Ministry of National Education and Professional Training, West Department Directorate), and ethical clearance by the Tulane University Human Subjects Protection Program. Letters of collaboration were received from participating high schools and written parental consent and individual assent/informed consent obtained from all students.

ORCiD

Anastasia J. Gage http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3785-3894

Additional information

Funding

This project was funded by the MEASURE Evaluation PRH Associate Award. MEASURE Evaluation PRH was funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) through cooperative agreement associate award number GPO-A-00-09-00003-00 and was implemented by the Carolina Population Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, in partnership with Futures Group, Management Sciences for Health, and Tulane University.

Notes on contributors

Anastasia J. Gage

Anastasia Gage is a Professor at the Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University. Her recent research contributions have been on VAW/G and adolescent health risk behaviors, with particular focus on sub-Saharan Africa and Haiti.

Jean Guy Honoré

Jean-Guy Honoré is an Obstetrician-Gynecologist at Clinique-Hôpital Le Messie, Port-au-Prince. He has collaborated on a pilot study on care and treatment for victims of sexual violence. He has also collaborated on the design and implementation of a qualitative study of barriers to routine screening for IPV in health care settings and on a pilot test of a school-based DV-prevention program in Port-au-Prince. He has served as official representative of the Haitian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists for the establishment of services for female victims of violence.

Josué Deleon

Josué Deleon has been involved in scientific research for the last nine years. He has served as research coordinator for two qualitative studies on intimate partner and DV in Haiti and is currently investigating issues in the Haitian educational system.