Do Men Need Empowering Too? A Systematic Review of Entrepreneurial Education and Microenterprise Development on Health Disparities among Inner-City Black Male Youth

Abstract

Economic strengthening through entrepreneurial and microenterprise development has been shown to mitigate poverty-based health disparities in developing countries. Yet, little is known regarding the impact of similar approaches on disadvantaged U.S. populations, particularly inner-city African-American male youth disproportionately affected by poverty, unemployment, and adverse health outcomes. A systematic literature review was conducted to guide programming and research in this area. Eligible studies were those published in English from 2003 to 2014 which evaluated an entrepreneurial and microenterprise initiative targeting inner-city youth, aged 15 to 24, and which did not exclude male participants. Peer-reviewed publications were identified from two electronic bibliographic databases. A manual search was conducted among web-based gray literature and registered trials not yet published. Among the 26 papers retrieved for review, six met the inclusion criteria and were retained for analysis. None of the 16 registered microenterprise trials were being conducted among disadvantaged populations in the U.S. The available literature suggests that entrepreneurial and microenterprise programs can positively impact youth's economic and psychosocial functioning and result in healthier decision-making. Young black men specifically benefited from increased autonomy, engagement, and risk avoidance. However, such programs are vastly underutilized among U.S. minority youth, and the current evidence is insufficiently descriptive or rigorous to draw definitive conclusions. Many programs described challenges in securing adequate resources, recruiting minority male youth, and sustaining community buy-in. There is an urgent need to increase implementation and evaluation efforts, using innovative and rigorous designs, to improve the low status of greater numbers of African-American male youth.

Microenterprise intervention to reduce sexual risk behaviors and increase employment and HIV preventive practices in economically-vulnerable African-American young adults (EMERGE): protocol for a feasibility randomized clinical trial

“…A strength of the trial is that it includes a relatively long and multi-faceted intervention that may plausibly have positive effects. It also builds on prior formative research conducted by the PI regarding participant interests and norms [40][41][42].…”

“…The goal is to reduce sexual risk behaviors and increase employment and uptake of HIV preventive behaviors by building skills and through motivational messaging and financial support. It is based on prior qualitative formative research conducted by the PI that examined health-focused entrepreneurial education [40,41], cell phone behaviors [42], uptake of text message surveys, and behavioral economics relating to sexual risk behaviors [43] in young adults experiencing homelessness. It is also based on prior published microenterprise interventions for HIV risk reduction used primarily in low-income countries, and adapted for use in a U.S. urban minority setting [13,[44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52].…”

Feasibility of Assessing Economic and Sexual Risk Behaviors Using Text Message Surveys in African-American Young Adults Experiencing Homelessness and Unemployment: Single-Group Study

“…Table 1 lists the questions used in the survey of this formative study. The set of questions was adapted from previous studies of economic empowerment and costs associated with HIV preventive and treatment services [ 42 - 51 ] and included questions developed by the study team, specifically for African American young adults experiencing homelessness and unemployment [ 52 - 54 ]. All questions were in English and reviewed by the study team, piloted with young adults, and revised as necessary prior to utilization.…”

A potential role of anti-poverty programs in health promotion

“…However, research on the effects of anti-poverty interventions on HIV has been limited (e.g., Jennings, 2014; Cui, et al, 2013). Relatively little health-oriented research has examined the effects of anti-poverty programs.…”