Paradigm shifts in sexual health: Quantitative analysis of story and fact-based health education interventions

There is a pressing need for sex education interventions that combat stigma and increase HIV knowledge and comfort in talking about sex among Canadian South Asians. A community-based research study in the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario, Canada assessed (1) the impact of fact-based versus story-based interventions on two outcomes: knowledge of HIV/STIs and HIV-related stigma; and (2) the potential of parasocial contact to reduce HIV-related stigma. This is a peer-facilitated, mixed method intervention involving a partnership between the Alliance for South Asian AIDS Prevention (ASAAP), an organization serving South Asian and Middle Eastern people living with and affected by HIV, knowledge users, and a team of academic researchers. Eight South Asian women peer leaders were trained to help carry out the interventions. A convenience sample of 78, ages 18–60 were recruited. Participants were randomly allocated to traditional fact sheets (n = 40), and stories (n = 38). Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted to investigate the differences in the two outcome variables (HIV/STI knowledge and stigma) between the two study groups after the intervention controlling for differences in measures before the intervention. Adjusted mean for the HIV/STI knowledge after the intervention was significantly higher in the story-sharing group (M = 8.02, SE = .28) vs fact-based group (M = 7.13, SE = .27), F(1, 75) = 5.10, p = .027, with the small effect size, partial Π2 = .06. Similarly, a significant difference was found in the mean post-intervention stigma scores between the story-sharing group and the fact-based group, F(1, 41) = 5.03, p = .030, with moderate effect size, partial Π2 = .11. Specifically, the mean stigma scores in the story-sharing group (M = 45.75, SE = 2.72) were significantly lower than the fact-based group (M = 54.80, SE = 2.85). Story-based interventions facilitated through parasocial contact with peer leaders offer powerful potential across populations and showed promise by increasing HIV/STI knowledge, reducing HIV-related stigma, and fostering capacity building, agency and empowerment.