Protecting Our Future Generation: Promotion of Protective Sexual Health Practices Among Native American Youth and Young Adults Through an Assets-based Self-care Intervention

The proposed study is a RCT to test the efficacy of a self-care intervention for sexual health promotion among youth and young adults in a participating Native American community. The goal of the intervention is to increase protective sexual health practices. The investigators will compare outcomes between two groups: the 1) experimental group and the 2) comparison group. Youth will be enrolled in the study and assessed at baseline, 3-months and 6-months post-intervention. Participants ages 14-26 will be enrolled through a non-probability sampling frame at: a) the local Indian Health Service (IHS) facility, including the Emergency Department waiting room; b) local schools; c) during health fairs and other community-based events; and d) other community gathering spots. Eligible individuals will be of Native American ethnicity, 14-26 years of age, and have primary residence and/or employment within the participating tribe's reservation. Research staff will screen potential participants for inclusion/exclusion criteria, explain study goals and procedures, and administer informed consent. After obtaining participant consent, participants will complete a baseline assessment and then be randomized to receive the self-care intervention or a control program. Follow-up assessments will be administered at 3-months and 6-months post-intervention for all study participants. Each assessment is expected to take 20-30 minutes to complete. The baseline assessment will take place at the location of recruitment and consent; follow-up assessments will take place at home or in a private location. All assessments will be self-administered on tablets using REDCap mobile technology.