Culturally Grounded Prevention for Minority Youth Populations: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Abstract

Contemporary prevention science has focused on the application of cultural adaptations of evidence-based prevention programs for minority youth populations. Far less is known about culturally grounded methods that are intended to organically develop prevention programs within specific populations and communities. This article systematically reviews recent literature on culturally grounded interventions used to prevent health disparities in ethnic minority youth populations. In this review, we assessed 31 peer-reviewed articles published in 2003 or later that fit inclusionary criteria pertaining to the development and evaluation of culturally grounded prevention programs. The evaluated studies indicated different approaches toward cultural grounding, as well as specific populations, geographic regions, and health issues that have been targeted. Specifically, the findings indicated that most of the studies focused on the development and evaluation of culturally grounded HIV/STI and substance abuse prevention programs for Mexican American, African American, and American Indian/Alaska Native youth residing in the South or Southwestern U.S. These studies largely relied on community-based participatory or qualitative research methods to develop programs from the “ground up.” This review has implications for the development of future culturally grounded and culturally adapted prevention programs targeting underserved minority youth populations and geographic regions. Specifically, it identifies populations and regions where culturally grounded prevention efforts are underdeveloped or non-existent, providing some scientific direction for the future development of these types of programs.

Culturally responsive approaches to health promotion for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders

“…Cultural grounded approaches are those in which the sociocultural context is at the core of the intervention and elements of the program are based on the worldviews, beliefs, and customs of the target population (Lauricella et al 2016; Palmer-Wackerly et al 2014). These types of interventions are referred to as originating from the “ground-up” because they emerge from the cultural group’s own worldviews and preferred practices rather than relying solely on Western notions of health promotion (Walters et al in press).…”

A Culturally Sensitive Approach to Large-Scale Prevention Studies: A Case Study of a Randomized Controlled Trial With Low-Income Latino Communities

“…Examining within-group heterogeneity illuminates the complexities of the study population and avoids deficit-focused interpretations of the data that result from homogenizing groups (Rogler, 1989). 2 Within-group analyses are now considered best practice in culturally sensitive prevention efforts and allow for more targeted recommendations for research, practice, and policy (Lauricella, Valdez, Okamoto, Helm, & Zaremba, 2016). Beyond these practical considerations, within-group analyses reject larger theoretical notions of universalism and instead focus greater attention on context by assuming and explicitly modeling differential impacts.…”

The Role of Relational Harmony in the Use of Drug-Refusal Strategies of Rural Native Hawaiian Youths

“…In this vein, culturally-grounded interventions are particularly important, because they balance community input in the development and implementation of interventions with overall program effectiveness (Okamoto et al, 2014). However, in part due to the cost and time to develop these interventions, the relative number of these types of programs are lacking (Lauricella, Valdez, Okamoto, Helm, & Zaremba, 2016). In order to create effective, culturally grounded drug prevention programs for indigenous youth, cultural norms and values that can influence substance use in indigenous youth must be meaningfully integrated into these programs.…”