2 - (SYM 93) Utilizing Community Based Participatory Research to Develop a Culturally-tailored Sexual Health Intervention Approach for South African Adolescents

Background: Black South African adolescent girls experience health disparities related to both unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STI) including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).  Our team has previously employed Cultural Consensus Modeling with South African adolescent girls to examine cultural factors associated with dual protection methods (i.e., methods that prevent both unintended pregnancy and HIV/STI).  To shift the current dominant school-based sexual health messaging to one that incorporates culturally-appropriate, highly effective dual protection strategies, we describe the process of utilizing a youth-led Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) approach to adapt a nationally implemented school-delivered sexual health curriculum (love4life). 

Methods: In partnership with our South African community based organizational partner, loveLife, we established a youth advisory group comprised of adolescents (aged 14-17 years of age) who were leaders of the adaptation of the love4life curriculum.  Youth were selected via an application process based on their leadership skills and desire to be involved in sexual health programming development. This approach embraced a youth empowerment framework via a strengths-based, participatory approach to actively engage adolescents in the decision-making process. Six group sessions with the youth advisory group were conducted to adapt the love4life curriculum.

Results: Consistent with CBPR, the youth board collaboratively adapted core intervention modules focused on sexual health to integrate material on the use of highly efficacious contraceptive methods in combination with effective HIV prevention methods (i.e., emphasizing dual protection). A revised intervention manual and training materials were created.

 Conclusion: CBPR was an optimal approach for the youth-led adaptation of a sexual health curriculum employed nationally in South African schools. The resulting culturally-adapted intervention addressed gaps in adolescents’ awareness and use of dual protection strategies via content to address the prevailing sociocultural norms about pregnancy and HIV/STI prevention.