[ACCESS TO AN ONLINE EDUCATIONAL MODULE ON SEXUAL HEALTH FOR LATINO/A ADOLESCENTS]

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Digital Health Interventions
• Adolescent Sexual Health

Context:

• Parent-adolescent communication regarding sexual health is crucial for adolescent well-being.
• The Puerto Rican population faces unique challenges in accessing digital health resources.
• Web-based interventions offer a scalable approach to health education.

Purpose:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a web-based intervention (Project Cuídalos) designed to enhance sexual health communication between parents and adolescents.
• To identify barriers and facilitators to accessing and utilizing the intervention within the target population.
• To gather qualitative insights for refining the intervention and informing future digital health initiatives.

Summary:

• A longitudinal study with 1,320 participants assessed the impact of a web-based sexual health module for parents.
• A qualitative component involving semi-structured interviews with 23 participants explored challenges related to module access and platform usability.
• Six thematic categories emerged, including perceived impact, communication, platform access, and technical assistance.

Impact:

• Findings provide actionable recommendations for improving the design and implementation of web-based health interventions.
• The study will refine Project Cuídalos, enhancing its effectiveness in promoting parent-adolescent sexual health communication.
• Results offer valuable insights for researchers and practitioners developing similar internet-based health promotion programs.