Pilot Testing an Intervention to Help Black Girls Avoid Behaviors That Put Them at Risk for Contracting HIV

Issue: Adolescents who engage in risky sex behaviors are at high risk for contracting HIV infection. Blacks are disproportionately affected by HIV. Description: Using a risk and protective factors framework this pilot study tested the feasibility and initial efficacy of an intervention to prevent risky sex behaviors in Black middle school-aged girls. The convenience sample included 10 Black female adolescents and their 11 mothers. The intervention had as an over-arching focus the promotion of racial pride in the girls and had three components: (a) adolescent education, (b) an adolescent service learning experience, and (c) mother training. A one group pre-test/post-test and three month follow-up design was used. Feasibility was examined throughout the study and included evaluations by the girls, the mothers, and the nurse interveners. Lessons Learned: Positive trends were noted in mean scores across two time points for the girls and across three time points for the mothers, for most of the surveys administered. The promotion of racial pride was perceived as an important piece of the intervention. Recommendations: A mother-daughter education intervention coupled with service learning for the girls is feasible and useful to Black middle school aged girls and their mothers. A booster for the girls may be needed. Specific strategies must be carefully designed for successful recruitment and retention.