Introduction
AIM (Adult Identity Mentoring) is a project designed for the reduction of the risk behavior associated with HIV among the youth. It is basically an evidence-based youth development intervention program specifically developed to decrease the intention of youth in engaging in the sex and to promote delay in the initiation of sex and abstinence. Important thing regarding this project is that a change in sexual behavior is affected by it without giving focus on the risks associated with the sex (Miller, 2014). This project was studied by Clark, et al. (2005) in the context of reduction of sexual risks for African-American seventh-grade students. The study was conducted based on the objective to determine whether this project of Adult Identity Mentoring successfully promote delays in sexual initiation and decrease the intention of youth in engaging in sex.
Results of Evaluation
The results of the study revealed that there were no significant differences existed in characteristics of sexual risks and demographic characteristics between those students who were receiving AIM intervention and those students who were receiving education classes regarding standard health but there was 1 exception existed. The results revealed that 16% of the students who were involved in receiving AIM intervention reported and showed any level of eh plan of engaging themselves in the sexual; activities in the next nine months but in comparison to it, there were 49% of the students who were involved in receiving standard health education reported their plan (Clark, et al., 2005). A protective effect for all levels of the students was produced by the AIM intervention and it was indicated by considering the overall effect of intervention conditions. It was founded that those students who were experienced AIM intervention were in less number to report any level of sexual intercourse (Chla, 2018).
When sexual risk for virgin students was evaluated then results revealed that only 1% of the students with AIM intervention revealed to be involved in the sexual interaction in the next nine months in comparison to it there were 15% of the students who showed their intention to involve in sexual activities in the next nine months. In respect of results regarding the effect of the intervention on 1-year follow-up, the results showed that the effect of the intervention in respect of sexual intentions was no longer significant for the follow-up of 1-year post-intervention. The results showed that 9% of the students with AIM intervention revealed their intention to have sex in next year in comparison to 18% of the students who were receiving standard health education curriculum (Clark, et al., 2005).
Implications of Project
This AIM project is based on the extensive level of collaboration among youth, community agencies, providers, educators, and researchers. Latino youth and church setting were two different community-based settings on which project AIM has been field tested. This is the reason that this project is suitable for Latino youth and community settings by agency staff serving African American but along with it, this project is also appropriate for youth of other ethnicities and races living in low-income countries (Recapp, 2018).
The sample size of this study was small because of the reason that this study was conducted based on intention as the first small level evaluation of AIM intervention in respect of reduction of sexual risks. Despite this limiting factor the results were promising and warrant more research. The data used in this research study was limited due to the reason of self-reporting due to which it might possible that students responded according to their own thought. Another important aspect of implication was that in context of changing sexual behavior, mere leakage of information was not sufficient because of the reason that this study took place in 1 school, so the information was shared among the students.
Recommendations
The first thing is that adolescents should be given universal access to comprehensive information of AIM project that should be culturally sensitive, appropriate, confidentiality and evidence-based. A certain level of advanced method and technological tools should be included in the project for providing comprehensive sexuality education. There should be different activities to develop the interest of students not only from African American, but it could be beneficiary for the youth around the world. The activities and sessions should need to be conducted in clear for a better understanding of the consequences of the sex during early age on future success (Chla, 2018).
It is also very important that this project should need to be extended to add a certain level of knowledge building regarding sexual health and the risks in the adolescent of age more than 18 years. As this AIM project is based on the theory of possible selves which states that motivation of a person is determined by the balance of negative and positive ways regarding his future so there is a need to develop the project into an intensive and interactive intervention project that should be included group activities and discussion, lectures and videos. All the components of the project should need to be led by a trained facilitator.
Conclusion
AIM project is concluded as an efficient method because it works on the basis of a holistic approach in order to youth in exploring their future adult identities and it helps in the development of goal setting and problem-solving skills to keep them healthy. Based on the research, it is concluded that the AIM project resulted in an increased level of abstinence and decreased the level of intention of students to engage in sexual activities.
References
Chla. (2018, Dec 30). Project AIM (Adult Identity Mentoring): A program. Retrieved from https://www.chla.org/sites/default/files/migrated/PROJECT-AIM-FACT-SHEET-5-5-14.PDF
Clark, L. F., Miller, K. S., Nagy, S. S., Avery, J., Roth, D., Liddon, N., et al. (2005). Adult identity mentoring: Reducing sexual risk for African-American. Journal of Adolescent Health, 37, 337.e1–337.e10.
Miller, K. S. (2014, January 22). Project AIM (Adult Identity Mentoring). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/globalaids/publications/aim-2-pager-final-jan-2014.pdf
Recapp. (2018, June 22). Adult Identity Mentoring (Project AIM). Retrieved from http://recapp.etr.org/recapp/index.cfm?fuseaction=pages.ebpDetail&PageID=573
