Using Pre-Texts for the Design of a Sexual and Reproductive Health Curriculum for Latin American Parents of Adolescents 10-14 years old Open Access

Gigger, Danique (Spring 2018)

Permanent URL: https://etd.library.emory.edu/concern/etds/ns064611h?locale=en
Published

Abstract

Background: Adolescence is a critical time period in which many individuals explore gender and sexual orientation, have their sexual debut and are susceptible to pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) has the second highest adolescent fertility rate in the world, and one youth in 20 will acquire an STI each year. Late teens’ (15-19 years old) sexual behaviors are formed during early adolescence (10-14 years old); thus, interventions targeting earlier age groups are essential to transform sexual behaviors in subsequent years. Adapting Pre-Texts—an arts-based training program—to a sexual health curriculum amongst Latin American parents/caregivers of youth 10-14 years old can help improve communication around sensitive sexual and reproductive health topics with their teens with the hopes of ultimately reducing pregnancy and STIs amongst adolescents in LAC.

 

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to design a sexual health curriculum rooted in the Pre-Texts method on puberty, menstruation, adolescent pregnancy, STIs, healthy relationships, gender norms, sexual orientation, and contraception specifically to be used amongst Latin American parents/caregivers of adolescents 10-14 years old.

 

Methods: The seven-module curriculum was developed with input from Dr. Karen Andes and Dr. Vialla Hartfield-Méndez at Emory University. The STI module was piloted amongst MPH students at the Rollins School of Public Health (RSPH).

 

Results: MPH students in the CBPAR class at RSPH felt the curriculum increased their engagement with the selected text and facilitated ease in discussing sensitive sexual and reproductive health topics. They gave feedback and input to include role-playing, resources, and discussions with parents in the final curriculum. The final curriculum consisted of seven modules with selected texts in Spanish that focused on the following topics: puberty, menstruation, adolescent pregnancy, STIs, healthy relationships, gender norms, sexual orientation, and contraception.

 

Discussion: Further efforts should be made to pilot the curriculum amongst Latin American parents/caregivers. Key stakeholders should develop texts that are culturally and geographically tailored to participants.

 

Table of Contents

                                            Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Introduction and Background 1-8

Rationale 1

Significance 1-4

Problem Statement 5

Purpose Statement 5-6

Definition of Terms 6-7

List of Acronyms and Abbreviations 8

Chapter 2. Literature Review 9-31

Theoretical Framework 9-10

State of adolescent sexual and reproductive health in the Americas 10-15

Social and gender norms surrounding SRH in LAC 16-17

Sexual violence and abuse 18-19

Legal and social barriers to contraceptives amongst adolescents 19-20

Underdeveloped education and unequal income in LAC 20-21

Adolescents’ knowledge of sexual and reproductive health 21-22

Limited school-based programs addressing SRH in adolescents 22-23

Family-based programming 23-25

Communication surrounding SRH between parents and youth 25-26

Importance and impact of communication surrounding SRH between parents and youth on subsequent SRH outcomes 26-28

Pre-Texts directed at parents to increase parent-child sexual communication 28-31

Chapter 3. Methods 32-34

Curriculum Development 32-33

Pilot Study 33

Curriculum Revisions 33-34

Chapter 4. Results 35-42

Curriculum 35-39

Pilot Study 39-42

Chapter 5. Discussion 43-47

Objectives of the Curriculum and Next Steps 43-45

Strengths and Limitations 45-46

Recommendations and Implications 46

Conclusions 46-47

References 48-54

Appendices 55-103

Summary of Modules 56

Module 1 57-61

Module 2 62-65

Module 3 66-69

Module 4 70-73

Module 5 74-77

Module 6 78-81

Module 7 82-85

Optional Activities for Curriculum Modules 86-94

Additional Resources for Activities 95

Pre-Evaluation 96-97

Post-Evaluation 98-100

Optional Texts: Additional Texts in English 101-103

 

 

 

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