School-based HIV/AIDS Prevention Interventions in Sub-Saharan African Union Member States: A Cross-sectional Comparative Analysis

Sub-Saharan African Union Member States have implemented school-based HIV/AIDS prevention interventions to mitigate the spread of HIV among adolescents. A mixed-methods approach was employed, including surveys and qualitative interviews with students and educators. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic content analysis. Findings indicate that while over 80% of participants reported increased awareness about HIV transmission methods, only half demonstrated consistent condom use in their relationships. School-based interventions in Ethiopia show promise but require further customization to address specific knowledge gaps and behaviour changes among students. Interventions should incorporate more interactive sessions and peer-led activities to enhance understanding and adherence. Educators need additional training on sensitive topics such as sexual health and relationships. Treatment effect was estimated with logit(pᵢ)=β₀+β^ Xᵢ, and uncertainty reported using confidence-interval based inference.