Research project

The Collaborative HIV/AIDS and Adolescent Mental Health Project (CHAMP)

Status :
Current
Project leader : Bhana, Arvin (Prof A.)
Other team members : Phillips-Reynard, L. (Ms Lizette)
Glasson, M.T. (Ms Michele)
Responsible department : Human and Social Development
Data : Access data
Research output(s) : Baptiste, D.R., Bhana, A., Petersen, I., McKay, M., Voisin, D., Bell, C. & Martinez, D.D. (2006) Community collaborative youth-focused HIV/AIDS prevention in South Africa and Trinidad: preliminary findings. Journal of pediatric psychology. 31:905-916.
Bell, C., Bhana, A., McKay, M. & Petersen, I. (2007) Building protective factors to offset sexually risky behaviors among black South African youth: a randomized control trial.
Bhana, A., Petersen, I., Mason, A., Mahintsho, Z., Bell, C. & McKay, M. (2004) Children and youth at risk: adaptation and pilot study of the CHAMP (Amaqhawe) programme in South Africa. African journal of AIDS research. 3(1):33-43.
Paruk, Z., Petersen, I., Bhana, A., Bell, C.C. & McKay, M. (2005) Containment and contagion: how to strengthen families to support youth HIV prevention in South Africa. African journal of AIDS research. 4(1):57-63.
Petersen, I., Mason, A., Bhana, A., Bell, C.C. & Mckay, M. (2006) Mediating social representations using a cartoon narrative in the context of HIV/AIDS: the AmaQhawe family project in South Africa. Journal of health psychology. 11(2):197-208.
Petersen, I., Bhana, A. & McKay, M. (2005) Sexual violence and youth in South Africa: the need for community-based prevention interventions. Child abuse & neglect. 29(11):1233-1248.
Petersen, I., Bhagwanjee, A., Bhana, A. & Mahintsho, Z. (2004) The development and evaluation of a manualised participatory HIV/AIDS risk reduction programme (Sex and Risk) for tertiary level learners: a pilot study. African journal of AIDS research. 3(1):93-100.
Sperber, E., McKay, M.M., Bell, C.C., Petersen, I., Bhana, A. & Paikoff, R. (2008) Adapting and disseminating a community-collaborative, evidence-based HIV/AIDS prevention programme: lessons from the history of CHAMP. Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies. 3(2):150-158.
Project summary

The Collaborative HIV/AIDS and Adolescent Mental Health Project (CHAMP) is a developmentally-timed family research intervention targeting 10-12 year old (pre-adolescent) children and their families, originally developed in the USA and adapted for South Africa. This 5-year NIMH funded randomised control trial prevention project aims to strengthen the adult protective shield and thereby reduce the risk of HIV exposure among pre-adoelscents.

The programme is delivered to children and parents using cartoons as a media format that is accessible to parents with low literacy levels in a peri-urban area outside Durban. Preliminary qualitative and quantitative findings indicate that the programme has significant influences on key outcomes such as AIDS knowledge, communication and stigma among others.