Adapting a Sexual Health Intervention for Adolescents Exposed to Adversity: Feasibility Study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Adolescent Health
• Intervention Science

Background:

• Adolescent sexual exploration is normative but carries risks when unprotected or under the influence of substances.
• Youth exposed to adversity are particularly vulnerable to adolescent sexual risk-taking.
• Targeted interventions considering lived experiences and local context are crucial for this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of participant recruitment and retention.
• To evaluate participant engagement with an adapted intervention (Focus on Youth with Informed Parents and Children Together).
• To explore the intervention's impact on sexual health knowledge, intentions, communication, and behaviors among Black youth exposed to household challenges.

Main Methods:

• Recruitment via school/community presentations, digital flyers, and referrals.
• Screening of 121 youth across 3 Baltimore sites; 61 youth (aged 13-16) randomized.
• Three assessments (baseline, posttest, 3-month follow-up) to measure feasibility, engagement, and secondary outcomes.

Main Results:

• High feasibility: 87% completed all assessments; 80% attended ≥3 sessions.
• Significant increase in sexual health knowledge in the intervention group.
• Among sexually active participants, high rates of abstinence from alcohol (100%) and drug use (67%) before sex were reported.

Conclusions:

• The adapted Focus on Youth intervention is feasible for recruiting, retaining, and engaging at-risk youth.
• Further research is needed to confirm the intervention's effectiveness in mitigating sexual risk-taking.
• Study findings will inform future assessment redesigns to better capture factors influencing sexual health behaviors.