Systematic reviews of interventions13-15 have
found that while school programming does not
always produce improvements in knowledge, this
is the most likely change associated with the
presence of school-based programmes. Most
studies, however, do not separate fact from myth,
but include both in a single measure of knowledge.
Data collected in this study produced two distinct
measures in factor and reliability analysis: one for
factual knowledge and another for endorsement or
rejection of local myths. This is similar to analysis
of data from studies in Kenya42, 46 and South
Africa43, 44. In both studies endorsement or
rejection of myths had a significant influence on
risk-related sexual behaviours, and levels of
knowledge did not. If the ultimate goal of HIV
prevention programming is to change risk-related
behaviours, it appears that reducing myth
endorsement may be more important than
increasing factual knowledge.