C-SAFE: A Computer-Delivered Sexual Health Promotion Program for Latinas

Abstract

This article describes the development and evaluation of C-SAFE (Sexual Awareness for Everyone), a computer-delivered sexual health promotion program for Latinas. We first describe the process of adapting an evidence-based, group-level intervention into an individually administered computer-delivered program. We then present the methods and results of a randomized control trial with 321 Latinas in California and Florida to test C-SAFE’s preliminary efficacy in reducing sexual health risk. We found no statistically significant differences between the two conditions at a six-month follow-up in terms of sexual behaviors or attitudes toward sexually transmitted infections and condoms, although C-SAFE women reported fewer days in the past month when their mental health was not good (p = .02). C-SAFE condition women also reported more satisfaction than control condition women in their assessment of information presentation (on a scale of 1 = poor and 5 = excellent; C-SAFE = 4.45 vs. control = 4.25, p = .053) and having learned something new (C-SAFE = 95.1% vs. control = 79.3%, χ2 < 0.001), with utility of content for Latinas approaching significance (C-SAFE =4.50 vs. control = 4.31, p = .058). In conclusion we discuss the importance of teachable moments, matching of delivery modalities to implementation contexts, and possible directions for evidence-based sexual health promotion programs given the current sexual health landscape.

Universal and Selective Interventions to Prevent Poor Mental Health Outcomes in Young People: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

“…Studies reported (in descending order of frequency) on anxiety features (87 articles; 29.5%), affective symptoms (65 articles; 22.0%), other emotional and behavioral problems (62 articles; 21.0%), conduct problems (59 articles; 20.0%), general psychological distress (52 articles; 17.6%), alcohol use (42 articles; 14.2%), externalizing behaviors, (31 articles; 10.5%), tobacco use (32 articles; 10.8%), internalizing behaviors (25 articles; 8.5%), cannabis use (23 articles; 7.8%), ADHD features (21 articles; 7.1%), interpersonal violence (14 articles; 4.7%), eating-related problems (13 articles; 4.4%), consequences of alcohol use (12 articles; 4.1%), PTSD features (6 articles; 2.0%), sleep-related problems (6 articles; 2.0%), and impaired functioning (5 articles; 1.7%) (Supplemental Table 3, http://links.lww.com/HRP/A158). 44–133, 134–231, 232–332 …”

Web-Based Health Information Technology: Access Among Latinos Varies by Subgroup Affiliation

“…The need to pay attention to nativity and subgroup or regional affiliation among Latinos is particularly important in light of other studies that show that the internet is becoming the most common source of health information for all ethnic groups [38]. In addition, although emerging research shows that Spanish speakers view Web-based health portals positively [39] and computer-assisted interventions are being deployed more frequently among US Latinos [40], our research implies that the deployment of such interventions online will have uneven penetration among Latinos, particularly foreign-born individuals and Mexican-identified persons. Our findings also support previous research showing that certain portions of the US Mexican-identified population, such as farmworkers, do not seek health information online [36].…”

Web-Based Health Information Technology: Access Among Latinos Varies by Subgroup Affiliation (Preprint)

“…We also conducted a third post-hoc analysis to see nativity was a significant predictor of online HISB and HIT use among Within group nativity differences: We then examined online health information seeking behavior among Mexican-identified individuals to understand differences in online HISB and HIT use by nativity. We found that US-born individuals had higher odds (OR=1.9, 95% CI: 1.6, Additionally, while emerging research shows that Spanish speakers view online health portals positively, [28] and computer assisted interventions are being deployed more frequently among US Latinos, [29] our research implies that the deployment of such interventions online will have uneven penetration among Latinos, particularly foreign born individuals and Mexican-identified persons. Our findings also support previous research…”