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REAL Men

An Evidence-Based Practice

Description

REAL Men targets men aged 11-14 and their fathers or father figures. The intervention is delivered to fathers one a week in a group format. There are a total of seven sessions, each lasting two hours. Fathers attended the first 6 sessions alone, and fathers and sons attended the final session together.

During the sessions, fathers are presented with information on communication with adolescents, general topics such as parental monitoring and relationships with peers, general sexual topics important in adolescence, and specific information about transmission and prevention of HIV and AIDS. The program is structured to include opportunities to view others performing the behavior (i.e., videotapes of fathers talking to sons about sexual topics) and to practice the behavior through role plays.

Goal / Mission

This program aims to promote delay of sexual intercourse, condom use among those who were sexually active, and communication on sexuality between fathers (or father figures) and sons.

Results / Accomplishments

The program group was compared to a control group who participated in a similarly structured seven-session nutrition and exercise program. Fathers who received the REAL Men intervention had a greater likelihood to discuss sex-related topics with their sons compared to the control group 12 months after the intervention (p=0.04). Twelve months after the intervention, adolescent boys receiving the intervention reported a greater likelihood of using condoms during sexual intercourse compared to the controls (p=0.03).

These findings show that involving fathers in sex education can be an effective means of promoting HIV prevention practices among adolescent males.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Emory University and Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta
Primary Contact
Colleen DiIorio
Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education
Rollins School of Public Health
Emory University
1518 Clifton Rd, NE, Rm 560, Atlanta, GA 30322
cdiiori@sph.emory.edu
https://www.sph.emory.edu/departments/bshe/researc...
Topics
Health / Adolescent Health
Health / Men's Health
Organization(s)
Emory University and Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta
Source
American Journal of Public Health
Date of publication
Jun 2007
Geographic Type
Urban
Location
Atlanta
For more details
Target Audience
Teens, Men, Racial/Ethnic Minorities