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Peer Manchester Informal Peer Education in the Student Community

Peer Manchester Informal Peer Education in the Student Community. Dr Cliff Shelton F1 House Officer, Tameside General Hospital. Background. What is Peer Manchester? A sexual health promotion project. Run by students for the student community. Informal peer education.

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Peer Manchester Informal Peer Education in the Student Community

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  1. Peer ManchesterInformal Peer Education in the Student Community Dr Cliff Shelton F1 House Officer, Tameside General Hospital

  2. Background • What is Peer Manchester? • A sexual health promotion project. • Run by students for the student community. • Informal peer education. • Who initiated the project? • Unisex Manchester. • Manchester Students Union. • NHS Public Health Development Service.

  3. Why Target Students? • Women 18-24 have an abortion rate twice the national average • HIV, syphilis, chlamydia, genital warts, genital herpes are all still increasing amongst 16-24 year olds. • Young men and women account for 57% and 75% of chlamydia diagnoses, respectively. • There is a large body of research linking alcohol and drug use with risky sexual behaviours; and another large body of research linking students with alcohol and drug use. • According to the NUS, abortion rates among students peak 2-3 months after freshers week. Sources: Office of National Statistics, Health Protection Agency, NUS

  4. Why Use Peer Education? • Prior success in the Manchester Student Community: • The safer sex in the city campaign • Evidence base to support peer education as an agent for behavioural change: • APAUSE • Similar Projects Overseas: • P6 • Last but not least… • Common Sense!

  5. The Search for the ‘Silver Bullet’ • Manchester Student Demographics: • Total Students: 35,005 • Undergraduates: 23,681 • Mature Students: 17% • International Students: 10% • Countries of origin: 165 • Arts vs Sciences: 44:66 • Student Societies : 183 • Sports Teams: 40 “Can one project target a group this diverse?” Sources: UCAS, University of Manchester, UMSU

  6. Peer Manchester’s Aims • Reduce STIs / unwanted pregnancies. • Increase knowledge of sexual health. • Improve access to services. • Combat taboo. • Reduce the negative influence of peer pressure. • Benefit both peer educators and the student population.

  7. Project Design • Back to the ‘Silver Bullet’ Question… • Provide a generic, expert-led training for a diverse volunteer base. • Make use of existing social networks. • Encourage and support ‘bespoke’ projects. • Follow up with a robust and accessible support network.

  8. Training Design • Expert-Led, Interactive. • Sessions on: • Student Health • Sexually transmitted infections • Contraception • Rape and Sexual Assault • Public Health Promotion • Reproduction, Pregnancy and Childbirth • Communication Skills • Project Design • Risk Appreciation

  9. Participants • ‘An Uphill Struggle’ • Student community leaders. • 12 Participants: • UMSU • Student Welfare Societies • Nightline • Medsin

  10. Training Objectives • Desired Outcomes: • Participants find the training useful and enjoyable. • Participants gain knowledge. • Participants build skills. • Participants will be empowered to act as a sexual health resource. • Participants will run bespoke projects.

  11. Data Collection • Data was collected using structured questionnaires. • Participants were presented with a number of statements which they rated on a 5 point Likert scale: • 1=Strongly Disagree, 5=Strongly Agree • General comments were also recorded. • Of 12 participants, 8 completed the questionnaire satisfactorily.

  12. Results (I)

  13. Results (II)

  14. Results (III)

  15. Results (IV)

  16. Conclusion • All desired outcomes were met. • This data strongly implies that this project has the potential to make a positive impact on student sexual health. • Although responses were generally positive, areas for improvement can be identified. • All our trainees expressed an intention to act as a peer educator to the student community.

  17. Next Steps • Areas for improvement in the next Peer Manchester training: • Knowledge of reproduction and contraception. • Skills in talking about sex. • Inspiring our trainees to run bespoke projects. • Attendance is our major challenge. • Sustainability is paramount. • Permanent staff member?

  18. Final Thought • “Thanks very much – inspired me to take a more active role in sexual health promotion” -Peer Manchester Trainee

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