Healthy Oakland TeensDescription and Explanation of Study
Instrument A questionnaire based on findings from earlier
surveys was developed and pilot tested on junior high school
students. The content and wording of the survey was modified
based on pilot study results and participant feedback and used
in the present study to assess demographic characteristics,
HIV/AIDS/STD-related knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs, sexual
behaviors and drug and alcohol use. The final instrument
included 102 items at pretest and 97 items at follow-up, and
required approximately 40 minutes to complete. The instrument
contained the following sections that were used to develop
scales. Sexual behaviors were assessed including dating,
kissing, deep kissing, breast touching, and genital touching.
These individual-item measures were dichotomous assessments for
lifetime behaviors and for practices during the past two months.
Those students who had experienced sexual intercourse were asked
about their lifetime and prior two months practi