Use of Community Health Advisors to Increase HPV Knowledge and Awareness

Background: Peer education programs have been used successfully to educate youth on health issues. The purpose of this study is to utilize teen community health advisors (CHAs) to increase human papilloma virus (HPV) knowledge and awareness. Methods: The UAB Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Center (MHRC) partnered with a local high school to implement the Teen CHA program. MHRC staff worked with the school's principals, counselors, health instructors, and nurse to recruit 9th-12th grade students who were (1) considered as role models; (2) viewed as non-judgmental; and (3) representative of peers in relation to risk taking behavior. Twenty-six students were recruited; 19 consented and completed CHA training. The training consisted of an evidence-based pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease prevention curriculum for basic sexual health information and an investigator-developed HPV curriculum. CHAs were encouraged to incorporate HPV education into their peer interactions and to develop school activities to increase HPV knowledge and awareness. Program evaluation includes: pre and post test surveys assessing sexual risk behaviors and HPV knowledge and vaccination status of the CHAs and the student population, training evaluations, and encounter logs. Results: Evaluation, to date, has shown that participants prefer role plays as a tool to receive and deliver sexual health education; CHAs are willing to track encounters regarding sexual health communication; and teens frequently communicate about sexual health topics via text messaging and internet chats. Conclusion: The teen CHA model appears to be a promising tool to increase HPV knowledge and awareness.