A Parent-Based Intervention to Reduce Sexual Risk Behavior in Adolescents

In the United States, racial and ethnic minorities suffer disproportionately from preventable diseases and conditions. Many of these problems result from health-related behaviors that are established during childhood and adolescence. Latino and African-American adolescents are at considerable risk for the negative consequences of early, risky sexual activity. This study will focus on Latino and African-American early adolescents ages 11 to 14. The primary aim for this study will be to test and refine a triadic intervention developed for healthcare providers and parents to address the issue of sexual risk behavior among African American and Latino adolescents. The triadic intervention will take place in a pediatric health care clinic when mothers accompany their children for a non-acute care visit. Mothers will meet with a provider extender (medical assistant, social worker, counselor) for approximately 30 minutes while their children are being examined by a healthcare provider. During this time, mothers will receive information about the problem of premature adolescent sexual activity, support in preventing or reducing their children's sexual risk behavior, instruction about how to talk with their children about sexual risk behavior, and targeted homework activities. The healthcare provider will endorse the intervention separately for mothers and adolescents. All parents will also receive one follow-up phone call to increase the probability that the homework tasks will be completed. Participants in this study will also be assigned to one of the following three groups: an experimental group; an active control group; or a passive control group. Participants in all groups will complete three questionnaires over the course of the study to assess outcomes. Participants in the experimental and active control groups will partake in an intervention session with a provider extender. Parents in the experimental group will meet with the provider extender to discuss effective parent-adolescent communication strategies. They will also receive take-home materials to help them communicate with and parent their adolescents to reduce sexual risk behavior. Parents in the active control group will meet with the provider extender to discuss adolescent nutrition and receive informational brochures. One booster session will take place via telephone for parents in the experimental and active control groups. The booster call will occur approximately 1 month after study entry. No such booster calls will be provided to parents in the passive control condition.