Sexual Health Behavioral Interventions for U.S. Latino Adolescents: A Systematic Review of the Literature

BACKGROUND: Latino adolescent sexual health is a fairly new research field with many gaps that need to be addressed in order to reduce the negative sexual health outcomes among this population.

METHODS: To identify sexual health behavior interventions targeting U.S. Latino adolescents, we conducted a systematic literature review of articles published between 1993 and 2008 that provided measurable objectives of increasing knowledge, changing attitudes, decreasing risky sexual behaviors, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and/or pregnancy. Interventions were analyzed based on use of a theoretical framework, content, methodology, outcome measures, and effectiveness. Interventions were classified using the Social Ecological Model to identify levels - individual, interpersonal, and community - that influence behavior change.

RESULTS: We identified 53 articles and excluded 42 which did not meet an established set of criteria, leaving 11 for this review because they specifically addressed Latino adolescent sexual health behavior and outcomes. Among the reviewed interventions, most aimed to prevent or reduce STI and HIV/AIDS incidence by focusing on behavior change at the individual and interpersonal levels. No studies specifically focused on community level behavior change.

CONCLUSIONS: During this presentation we will discuss the findings as they pertain to the strengths and weaknesses of the research on Latino adolescent sexual health behavioral interventions. We will present recommendations for future research to produce new or validate existing, age-specific, culturally-sensitive, and linguistically-appropriate sexual health interventions for Latino adolescents.