The aim of this contribution is to determine the communicative efficacy of selected print-based HIV and AIDS information education and communication (IEC) materials (posters, leaflets and brochures) among secondary school teenagers (13–19 years) in Harare. Data were collected over a period of 2 months from six schools, selected using multistage cluster sampling. It incorporated use of a self-administered questionnaire involving a sample of 750 teenagers, and 6 focus group discussions (FGDs), each comprised of 10 purposefully sampled participants. The survey investigated a number of indicators of communicative efficacy, wherein the IEC materials were found to be clear by 38.4 per cent (n = 288), informative by 45.2 per cent (n = 339), credible by 80.5 per cent (n = 604), appealing by 64.7 per cent (n = 485), important by 69.5 per cent (n = 521) and acceptable by 54 per cent (n = 405) of the respondents. The outcomes of the FGDs showed that, although HIV and AIDS IECs were generally believed to be appealing and to significantly increase awareness among teenagers, these were also considered somewhat unclear and inaccessible. Moreover, perceptions were strongly inclined towards use of Shona language, social media and elimination of fear appeals in HIV information. Thus, in addition to adopting young people-centred communication modes, finding an appropriate balance between complex language and efficacy of HIV prevention messages is imperative.

这项贡献的目的是确定在哈拉雷的中学生（13-19岁）中所选的印刷版艾滋病毒和艾滋病信息教育与传播（IEC）材料（海报，传单和小册子）的传播效果。使用多阶段整群抽样从6所学校收集了2个月的数据。它结合了使用自我管理的调查表的方式，该调查表涉及750名青少年的样本以及6个焦点小组讨论（FGD），每个小组讨论由10名有目的抽样的参与者组成。这项调查调查了许多交流效果指标，其中IEC材料的清晰度为38.4％（n = 288），信息水平为45.2％（n = 339），可信度为80.5％（n= 604），吸引力为64.7％（n = 485），重要度为69.5％（n = 521），接受率为54％（n = 405）。FGD的结果表明，尽管通常认为HIV和AIDS IEC具有吸引力，并且可以极大地提高青少年的认识，但也认为这些还不清楚，而且难以获得。此外，人们的看法强烈倾向于使用绍纳语，社交媒体和消除对艾滋病毒信息的恐惧感。因此，除了采用以年轻人为中心的交流方式外，还必须在复杂的语言和艾滋病毒预防信息的功效之间找到适当的平衡。