289672
Strategies for recruiting and retaining families in teen pregnancy prevention: A case study of a Latino family-based behavioral intervention
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
: 11:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Shai Fuxman, EdD,
Health and Human Development Programs, Education Development Center, Waltham, MA
Lydia O'Donnell, EdD,
Health and Human Development Division, Education Development Center, Inc., Waltham, MA
Background: Teen pregnancy rates among Latinos remain substantially higher than the national average, putting them at risk for adverse health, academic, and social outcomes. Tailored and culturally appropriate teen pregnancy prevention interventions have shown to be effective in reducing early sexual risk and other risky behaviors among youth. This case study examines challenges and successes associated with recruiting and retaining Latino families in a family-based intervention. Methods: Más que un sueño/More than a Dream is a teen pregnancy prevention program for Latino/a youth and their parents that combines two developmentally appropriate, culturally and linguistically relevant youth and parent interventions. °Cuídate! is a youth curriculum designed to address sexual risks. Salud y Exito/Health and Success consists of a series of audio CDs containing bilingual stories that provide relatable examples of parents overseeing youths' behavior, initiating conversations, and responding to warning signs of risk. Innovative strategies for recruiting and retaining Latino families in this program were identified and tested. These strategies include providing incentives for adults in the community to use their formal and informal networks to promote the program, and a communication strategy to support parent participation and retention involving carefully crafted email and SMS texting messages. Findings: The parent liaison program was effective in reaching potential program participants and promoting awareness about the program. Conclusions: Innovative strategies focused on appropriate incentives, community engagement, and communication can improve recruiting and retention efforts in teen pregnancy prevention interventions for Latino families.
Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Describe challenges and innovative strategies to address recruitment and retention in a Latino family-based program.
Describe a communication strategy to support parent participation and retention.
Identify lessons learned and implications for implementing teen pregnancy prevention programs for culturally-diverse populations.
Keyword(s): Hispanic Youth, Sexual Risk Behavior
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been working supervised by our PI for multiple federally funded grants for HIV/STI prevention/Teen pregnancy prevention. Among my scientific interests has been development of strategies for recruitment & retention. Preventing throughout our studies early pregnancy and HIV/STI prevention. Currently directly responsible for the mentoring data collectors working closely to achieve successful outcomes. Being fluent bilingual(English/Spanish). I communicate effectively with those involved in our projects that required recruiting Latino families.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
