Community-Based Logic Model Development to Evaluate a Youth Sexual Exploitation Prevention Curriculum: A...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Social Sciences
• Child Welfare

Background:

• Commercial sexual exploitation of youth (CSEY) inflicts severe harm, yet prevention strategies are underdeveloped.
• Existing research and interventions for CSEY prevention are limited and require enhancement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the iterative development of a logic model for a CSEY prevention curriculum evaluation.
• To guide a rigorous, multi-site randomized control trial (RCT) for a youth CSEY prevention curriculum.
• To integrate community-based participatory research (CBPR) principles into research design.

Main Methods:

• Employed a five-phased, iterative research design process.
• Integrated community-based and mixed methods research (CB-MMR) approaches.
• Engaged an 18-member research advisory board (RAB) with diverse expertise, including lived experience.

Main Results:

• The iterative process and community engagement substantively refined logic model outcome categories.
• The process highlighted the need to address potential victim-blaming and stigma in outcome measurement.
• Insights were gained on how implementation context influences outcome measurement for CSEY prevention.

Conclusions:

• Community and lived experience expert involvement is crucial for rigorous CSEY prevention research.
• This collaborative approach ensures research is attuned to real-world contexts and holistic impacts.
• Strengthening the evidence base for CSEY prevention research is essential for improving youth outcomes.