Adapting a Sexually Transmitted Infection Prevention Intervention Among Female Adolescents in Hawai'i

Epidemiological data suggest that Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Asian American (NHPIA) adolescent females in Hawai'i are at elevated risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). These data also indicate that teen girls in Hawai'i are more likely to engage in high-risk sexual behaviors than boys. Despite this compelling evidence, there is a paucity of published research on effective STI prevention protocols that target NHPIA female adolescents. In light of this need, the purpose of this study was to adapt an evidence-based, group-level STI behavioral prevention intervention targeting local NHPIA adolescent girls in Hawai'i for implementation by community-based organizations (CBOs). This article describes the adaptation of an evidence-based STI prevention intervention in partnership with a CBO, using a locally modified ADAPT-ITT model as a basis for the adaptation process. This research consisted of two phases: (1) development of an initial test version of an adapted intervention and (2) the development of the final version of the adapted intervention, Girl Power Hawai'i. The results provide the empirical and foundational research necessary for a tailored intervention that can be readily implemented by CBOs for local teen girls in Hawai'i.