Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention: How Cultural Components Play a Role in Programs Tailored for Minority Youth

Authors

Sarah B. Maness, College of CharlestonFollow
Shristi Bhochhibhoya, Georgia State UniversityFollow
Marshall Cheney, University of OklahomaFollow

Keywords

Adolescent pregnancy; Pregnancy prevention; Minority Health; Cultural Tailoring; Adolescent Health

Disciplines

Public Health | Public Health Education and Promotion

Abstract

Introduction: Cultural tailoring of adolescent pregnancy prevention programs has been utilized as a way to reduce persisting racial and ethnic disparities. This study explored how cultural components are included in evidence-based adolescent pregnancy prevention programs.

Methods: This study qualitatively assessed curricula of six federally supported evidence-based adolescent pregnancy prevention programs specifically tailored for African American and/or Hispanic youth. Patterns were analyzed within and between programs by two independent coders.

Results: Cultural components fell into five major themes: cultural art forms, traditions, history, community, and language. The most commonly included area was traditions (i.e. values, pride).

Conclusions: Variations exist in the cultural components both within and between adolescent pregnancy prevention programs in topics and depth of instruction. While curricula are often proprietary, transparency is recommended in future program development processes of cultural tailoring.

Recommended Citation

Maness, Sarah B.; Bhochhibhoya, Shristi; and Cheney, Marshall (2023) "Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention: How Cultural Components Play a Role in Programs Tailored for Minority Youth," Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice: Vol. 16: Iss. 1, Article 6.
Available at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/jhdrp/vol16/iss1/6