Zayas-Ríos J, Reyes-Ortiz V, González-Cortés D, Villarán GS, Vilella RG

Language: Spanish
References: 10
Page: 37-44
PDF size: 135.92 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: training of young people in the violence content may improve their relationship with parents, teachers and friends.
Objective: to evaluate a health education intervention about violence and its consequences for adolescents.
Methods: Evaluative research conducted in 2013 in 23 students with violence problems, who are studying at intermediate grades of a public school in Porto Rico. The first segment of intervention made emphasis on the cognitive aspects whereas the second one used a motivational strategy to modify attitudes towards violence. Before and after the intervention, a questionnaire was provided, which was based on the Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices for the Prevention of Violence Model.
Results: in the sample, 52.17 % (n= 12) were females and the average age of participants was 14 ± 1.51 years. After the intervention, 56.53 % (n= 13) proved to have good knowledge about violence and 47.05% (n= 8) had positive attitude toward violence. The intervention managed to change the level of knowledge ( U= -2.178, p= 0.03) but no significant difference was observed about attitudes toward violence in the participants (U =-1.124, p= 0.26).
Conclusions: the intervention is effective in terms of increasing knowledge about violence rather than modifying positive attitude toward it. Just one activity is not enough to bring about the desired change. It is then indispensable to encourage the cooperation among the sectors that might help the young people to adopt new authoritative attitudes that reject violence.

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