Empowerment in prevention: a qualitative inquiry into Black girl-centred strategies for reducing HIV/STI and drug misuse risk
Black girls in the United States are disproportionately diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections (STIs), which can increase the risk of contracting HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), compared to adolescent girls of other races. Therefore, this study was designed to understand barriers to impa...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/26410397.2024.2444728 |
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| author | Ijeoma Opara Emmanuella Asabor Jaleah Rutledge Jasmin R Brooks Stephens Sandy Cayo Beatriz Duran-Becerra Jasmine Abrams |
| author_facet | Ijeoma Opara Emmanuella Asabor Jaleah Rutledge Jasmin R Brooks Stephens Sandy Cayo Beatriz Duran-Becerra Jasmine Abrams |
| author_sort | Ijeoma Opara |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Black girls in the United States are disproportionately diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections (STIs), which can increase the risk of contracting HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), compared to adolescent girls of other races. Therefore, this study was designed to understand barriers to impactful HIV/STI and substance use prevention programmes for Black girls. Data was collected between October 2021 and June 2022 from twelve focus groups which included (N = 62) participants who identified as Black and female between the ages of 13 and 18 years old. Using intersectionality theory as a guiding framework, the data were analysed thematically. The analysis revealed three themes: (1) need for parent–child discussions on sex; (2) stigma in schools; (3) suggestions for Black girl-centred prevention programming. Participants described minimal discussion about sex in their household as well as STI/HIV and substance abuse stigma as barriers to impactful sex education. They also indicated that current substance use and STI/HIV prevention interventions are not tailored to the experience of Black girls and offered suggestions for improvement. In sum, participants pointed out several barriers to existing sex education and substance abuse prevention programmes. Findings revealed that HIV and drug use prevention information and knowledge may be best received from older peers in small private settings that can allow for intimate discussion and sharing of reliable information on HIV education, aetiology, and safer sexual practices. In addition, the study findings support the need to develop a racial and gender-specific prevention programming that fosters peer relationships, social support, and empowerment-based principles. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-88d112ed62ea483a83588400bdee66e1 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2641-0397 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters |
| spelling | doaj-art-88d112ed62ea483a83588400bdee66e12025-08-20T03:22:16ZengTaylor & Francis GroupSexual and Reproductive Health Matters2641-03972024-12-0132110.1080/26410397.2024.2444728Empowerment in prevention: a qualitative inquiry into Black girl-centred strategies for reducing HIV/STI and drug misuse riskIjeoma Opara0Emmanuella Asabor1Jaleah Rutledge2Jasmin R Brooks Stephens3Sandy Cayo4Beatriz Duran-Becerra5Jasmine Abrams6Associate Professor, Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA.PhD Candidate, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA; Medical School Student, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USAPostdoctoral Fellow, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USAPostdoctoral Fellow, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USAAssistant Professor, Yale School of Nursing, New Haven, CT, USAResearch Staff, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USAResearch Scientist, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USABlack girls in the United States are disproportionately diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections (STIs), which can increase the risk of contracting HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), compared to adolescent girls of other races. Therefore, this study was designed to understand barriers to impactful HIV/STI and substance use prevention programmes for Black girls. Data was collected between October 2021 and June 2022 from twelve focus groups which included (N = 62) participants who identified as Black and female between the ages of 13 and 18 years old. Using intersectionality theory as a guiding framework, the data were analysed thematically. The analysis revealed three themes: (1) need for parent–child discussions on sex; (2) stigma in schools; (3) suggestions for Black girl-centred prevention programming. Participants described minimal discussion about sex in their household as well as STI/HIV and substance abuse stigma as barriers to impactful sex education. They also indicated that current substance use and STI/HIV prevention interventions are not tailored to the experience of Black girls and offered suggestions for improvement. In sum, participants pointed out several barriers to existing sex education and substance abuse prevention programmes. Findings revealed that HIV and drug use prevention information and knowledge may be best received from older peers in small private settings that can allow for intimate discussion and sharing of reliable information on HIV education, aetiology, and safer sexual practices. In addition, the study findings support the need to develop a racial and gender-specific prevention programming that fosters peer relationships, social support, and empowerment-based principles.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/26410397.2024.2444728empowermentHIV preventiondrug misuse preventionBlack adolescent girlsfocus group methodology |
| spellingShingle | Ijeoma Opara Emmanuella Asabor Jaleah Rutledge Jasmin R Brooks Stephens Sandy Cayo Beatriz Duran-Becerra Jasmine Abrams Empowerment in prevention: a qualitative inquiry into Black girl-centred strategies for reducing HIV/STI and drug misuse risk Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters empowerment HIV prevention drug misuse prevention Black adolescent girls focus group methodology |
| title | Empowerment in prevention: a qualitative inquiry into Black girl-centred strategies for reducing HIV/STI and drug misuse risk |
| title_full | Empowerment in prevention: a qualitative inquiry into Black girl-centred strategies for reducing HIV/STI and drug misuse risk |
| title_fullStr | Empowerment in prevention: a qualitative inquiry into Black girl-centred strategies for reducing HIV/STI and drug misuse risk |
| title_full_unstemmed | Empowerment in prevention: a qualitative inquiry into Black girl-centred strategies for reducing HIV/STI and drug misuse risk |
| title_short | Empowerment in prevention: a qualitative inquiry into Black girl-centred strategies for reducing HIV/STI and drug misuse risk |
| title_sort | empowerment in prevention a qualitative inquiry into black girl centred strategies for reducing hiv sti and drug misuse risk |
| topic | empowerment HIV prevention drug misuse prevention Black adolescent girls focus group methodology |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/26410397.2024.2444728 |
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