Intervention Description
Intervention Package Information
Evaluation Study and Results
References and Contact Information
Intervention Description
Target Population
Latino
youth
Goals of Intervention
- Increase skills and self efficacy in
negotiating abstinence and condom use
- Increase abstinence
- Increase condom use
Brief Description
¡Cuídate! (Take Care of Yourself) is a small-group, culturally based intervention to reduce HIV sexual risk among Latino youth. The intervention consists of six 60-minute modules delivered to small, mixed-gender groups. ¡Cuídate! incorporates salient aspects of Latino culture, including familialism (i.e., the importance of family) and gender-role expectations (i.e., machismo, which is described as the man's responsibility in caring for and protecting one's partner and family). These cultural beliefs are used to frame abstinence and condom use as culturally accepted and effective ways to prevent sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. Through the use of role plays, videos, music, interactive games and hands-on practice, ¡Cuídate! addresses the building of HIV knowledge, understanding vulnerability to HIV infection, identifying attitudes and beliefs about HIV and safe sex, and increasing self-efficacy and skills for correct condom use, negotiating abstinence, and negotiating safer sex practices. The intervention curriculum is available in English and Spanish. |
Theoretic Basis
- Social Cognitive Theory
- Theory of Reasoned Action
- Theory of Planned Behavior
Intervention Duration Six 60-minute modules delivered over two consecutive Saturdays
Intervention Settings
Northeast Philadelphia schools (on the
weekends)
Deliverer
Trained adult facilitators, bilingual in
English and Spanish
Delivery Methods
- Demonstrations
- Group Discussion
- Lecture
- Video / Music
- Games
- Practice
- Role play
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Intervention Package Information
An intervention package is currently being developed under the Replicating Effective Program (REP) project. Please contact Dr. Antonia Villarruel, University of Michigan, School of Nursing, 400 N Ingalls, Room 4320, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0482 avillarr@umich.edu for details on intervention materials.
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Evaluation Study and Results
The original evaluation study was
conducted in Philadelphia, PA between 2000
and 2003.
Key Intervention Effects
-
Reduced sexual activity
- Reduced number of sex partners
- Reduced unprotected sex
- Increased condom use
Study Sample
The analytic study sample of 553 Latino youth is characterized by the
following:
- 100% Hispanic (85% Puerto Rican)
- 55% Female, 45% Male
- Mean age of 15 years, range: 13-18
years
- Median education of 9th grade
Recruitment Settings
Three Philadelphia high schools and community-based organizations
within the same neighborhoods
Eligibility Criteria
Youth were eligible if they were between 13
and 18 years old and provided assent and
parental consent. Non-Latino youth (n = 103)
were not excluded from participating in the
intervention but were excluded from
statistical analyses.
Assignment Method
Youth (N
= 656) were randomly assigned to 1 of 2
groups: ¡Cuídate! (n = 312) or the Health
Promotion comparison (n = 344).
Comparison Group
The
Health Promotion comparison intervention
focused on behaviors related to health
issues affecting Latino youth, including
diet; exercise and physical activity; and
cigarette, alcohol, and drug use. Latino
cultural values were presented to support
positive health behaviors.
Relevant Outcomes Measured and Follow-up Time
Sex behaviors during past 3 months
(including ever had sex, number of days had
sex, frequency of sex, number of days of
unprotected sex, number of sex partners, and
frequency of condom use) were measured at
3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups.
Participant Retention
- ¡Cuídate!:
- 82% retained at 3 months
- 81% retained at 6 months
- 79% retained at 12 months
- Health Promotion comparison:
- 86% retained at 3 months
- 85% retained at 6 months
- 84% retained at 12 months
Significant Findings
- Across the three follow-ups, intervention participants were significantly less likely to report sexual intercourse (p < .05) and multiple partners (p < .05) and reported fewer days of unprotected sexual intercourse (p < .05) compared to comparison participants
- Among those sexually active at baseline, intervention participants were more likely to report using condoms consistently across the three follow-ups when compared to comparison participants (p < .05).
- Among sexually inexperienced adolescents at baseline, intervention participants reported significantly fewer days of unprotected sex across the three follow-ups than comparison participants (p < .05).
- Among Spanish speakers, intervention participants reported a greater proportion of protected sex (p < .01) and were more likely to have used a condom at last sex (p < .05), across the three follow-ups, than comparison participants.
Considerations
- In the article by Villarruel et al. (2006), errors occurred in the symbol keys of Figures 2, 3, and 4 on page 775. The keys should have indicated that the squares represent the health promotion group and the diamonds represent the
¡Cuídate! HIV risk reduction intervention. The corrected figures can be found in the Erratum (Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2006 Nov;160(11):1187).
- The development of this intervention
was based on
Be Proud! Be Responsible!,
an intervention targeting African
American youth and tested originally
with inner-city African American male
youth.
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References and Contact Information
- Villarruel, A. M., Jemmott, J. B., & Jemmott,
L. S. (2006). A randomized controlled
trial testing an HIV prevention
intervention for Latino youth. Archives
of Pediatric Adolescent Medicine, 160,
1-6.
- Villarruel, A. M., Jemmott, L. S., & Jemmott,
J. B. (2005). Designing a culturally
based intervention to reduce HIV sexual
risk for Latino adolescents. Journal
of the Association of Nurses in AIDS
Care, 16, 23-31.
Researcher:
Dr. Antonia M. Villarruel, University of Michigan, School of Nursing, 400 N. Ingalls, Room 4320, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0482. email:
avillarr@umich.edu
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