Young Voices: Talking sex, HIV and relationships, our way
Summary:
Young Voices Africa is a co-creation project that has developed an interactive package of sexual health information materials designed to support self-efficacy. They have been created by, and for, young people (15-24) in Southern Africa. The animations are short, character-driven 'dilemma' stories relating to sex, relationships and HIV. They aim to catalyse thinking and discussion, to improve knowledge and support attitude and behaviour change. The project also developed supplementary materials including fact sheets and questions for discussion. There have been over 1.23 million engagements with the content (reacting, commenting, sharing, viewing, or clicking). The animations have been watched over 440,000 times (50%+ views). A coding analysis of comments left on the videos found 59% of people showed 'meaningful engagement' with the issues. 86% of respondents from organisations using the materials report them as 'very useful', with the same percentage reporting that they significantly enhanced their training sessions. These results show the power of relevant, co-created materials to engage and build knowledge to support informed choices. Social coding analysis shows the important role peers can play in reinforcing engagement and providing peer validation of the materials. But does Young Voices have a measurable effect on young people's sexual health choices? Does it successfully influence attitudes and intention to act? In partnership with the Centre for Infectious Diseases Research Zambia, Avert is currently undertaking an impact evaluation of Young Voices in Zambia, evaluating online and face to face use of the materials. Findings are due in 2020.
Background/Objectives:
Using a participatory content-creation process Young Voices aimed to produce materials tailored to the needs of young people that resonate with their lived experiences and engage them in conversations and discussion, to better promote HIV knowledge and behaviour change. Contemporary and empowering, the materials engage young people to think through their situations and those of peers, giving them the knowledge and skills to make informed choices and take control of their own sexual health. The materials have been designed both for use in face-to-face peer education settings and for self-guided use online and via social media.
Results/Lessons Learned:
The animations have achieved a high level of engagement across our social media channels and sparked conversations and debate between young people in Southern Africa. As of October 2019, Young Voices has: had over 1.23 million engagements (reacting, commenting, sharing, viewing, or clicking) been watched over 440,000 times (50%+ views). Coding analysis of the first 540 comments on the videos on our social channels found 59% of people participating in online discussions showed meaningful engagement with the issues covered in the animations. This was defined to include participants that expressed that they had gained knowledge, changed their perspective, or related the issue back to their own experience. Follow-up coding of another 1,000 comments is underway. Data received via surveys from organisations using the materials, show 86% of respondents said the materials were 'very useful', with the same percentage saying they had enhanced their training sessions 'a lot'.
Discussion/Implications for the Field:
The results demonstrate the power of relevant, co-created materials, to engage and build knowledge that can support informed choices. Social coding analysis shows the important role peers can play in reinforcing engagement and providing peer validation. But does Young Voices have a measurable effect on young people's sexual health choices? Does it successfully influence attitudes and intention to act? In partnership with the Centre for Infectious Diseases Research Zambia, Avert is undertaking an impact evaluation of Young Voices in Zambia, evaluating online and face to face use of the materials. Findings are due in late 2020.
Abstract submitted by:
Simon Moore - Avert
Young Voices Africa is a co-creation project that has developed an interactive package of sexual health information materials designed to support self-efficacy. They have been created by, and for, young people (15-24) in Southern Africa. The animations are short, character-driven 'dilemma' stories relating to sex, relationships and HIV. They aim to catalyse thinking and discussion, to improve knowledge and support attitude and behaviour change. The project also developed supplementary materials including fact sheets and questions for discussion. There have been over 1.23 million engagements with the content (reacting, commenting, sharing, viewing, or clicking). The animations have been watched over 440,000 times (50%+ views). A coding analysis of comments left on the videos found 59% of people showed 'meaningful engagement' with the issues. 86% of respondents from organisations using the materials report them as 'very useful', with the same percentage reporting that they significantly enhanced their training sessions. These results show the power of relevant, co-created materials to engage and build knowledge to support informed choices. Social coding analysis shows the important role peers can play in reinforcing engagement and providing peer validation of the materials. But does Young Voices have a measurable effect on young people's sexual health choices? Does it successfully influence attitudes and intention to act? In partnership with the Centre for Infectious Diseases Research Zambia, Avert is currently undertaking an impact evaluation of Young Voices in Zambia, evaluating online and face to face use of the materials. Findings are due in 2020.
Background/Objectives:
Using a participatory content-creation process Young Voices aimed to produce materials tailored to the needs of young people that resonate with their lived experiences and engage them in conversations and discussion, to better promote HIV knowledge and behaviour change. Contemporary and empowering, the materials engage young people to think through their situations and those of peers, giving them the knowledge and skills to make informed choices and take control of their own sexual health. The materials have been designed both for use in face-to-face peer education settings and for self-guided use online and via social media.
Results/Lessons Learned:
The animations have achieved a high level of engagement across our social media channels and sparked conversations and debate between young people in Southern Africa. As of October 2019, Young Voices has: had over 1.23 million engagements (reacting, commenting, sharing, viewing, or clicking) been watched over 440,000 times (50%+ views). Coding analysis of the first 540 comments on the videos on our social channels found 59% of people participating in online discussions showed meaningful engagement with the issues covered in the animations. This was defined to include participants that expressed that they had gained knowledge, changed their perspective, or related the issue back to their own experience. Follow-up coding of another 1,000 comments is underway. Data received via surveys from organisations using the materials, show 86% of respondents said the materials were 'very useful', with the same percentage saying they had enhanced their training sessions 'a lot'.
Discussion/Implications for the Field:
The results demonstrate the power of relevant, co-created materials, to engage and build knowledge that can support informed choices. Social coding analysis shows the important role peers can play in reinforcing engagement and providing peer validation. But does Young Voices have a measurable effect on young people's sexual health choices? Does it successfully influence attitudes and intention to act? In partnership with the Centre for Infectious Diseases Research Zambia, Avert is undertaking an impact evaluation of Young Voices in Zambia, evaluating online and face to face use of the materials. Findings are due in late 2020.
Abstract submitted by:
Simon Moore - Avert
Source
Approved abstract for the postponed 2020 SBCC Summit in Marrakech, Morocco. Provided by the International Steering Committee for the Summit. Image credit: Avert via YouTube