THE EFFECTS OF AN EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM ON THE SEXUAL HEALTH BEHAVIORS OF EARLY ADOLESCENT FEMALES IN AN ORPHANAGE

บทคัดย่อ

The purpose of this quasi-experimental, two-group, pre-post test study was to examine the effect of an empowerment program on the sexual health behaviors of early adolescent females in an orphanage. The sample consisted of fifty early-adolescent females. The subjects were randomly assigned into two groups, the control group and the experimental group, with twenty-five early adolescent females assigned to each. The control group received standard care, and the experimental group participated in the empowerment program. The program took place six times in four weeks. Data were collected at baseline and at ten weeks. The Cronbach alpha coefficient of the questionnaires was 0.80. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and t-test.

The results revealed that at ten weeks after participation, the mean score on sexual health behaviors in the experimental group was significantly higher than with the control group (p< .05) and was significantly higher than before the experiment   (p< .05). The results showed that the empowerment program was effective regarding the sexual health behaviors of early adolescent females in the orphanage.