Adapting a sexual and reproductive health program for Latina teens and their female caregivers: a qualitative study.

Journal: Frontiers in public health

Volume: 13

Issue: 

Year of Publication: 2025

Affiliated Institutions:  Center for Dissemination and Implementation Science, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States. School of Public Health, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States. Waves for Change, Cape Town, South Africa. Floreciendo Community Advisory Council, Chicago, IL, United States. Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States. School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY, United States.

Abstract summary 

Adaptation is widely recognized as important when interventions are to be delivered in new settings or with new populations. However, there are gaps in the literature on how adaptations are carried out and documented. IMARA is a 12-h evidence-based sexual health intervention for Black teens and their mothers, designed for delivery over two days. We present our systematic process of adapting IMARA for Latinas to produce the ("Blooming") program for Latina teens (14-18 years old) and their female caregivers (e.g., mothers, sisters).Using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach, we carried out a qualitative study that included 7 focus groups: 4 with staff from community partner organizations ( = 29), 2 with Latina teens (14-18 years) ( = 11), and 1 with female caregivers ( = 5). We also conducted seven key informant interviews with experts in sexual health and Latina health. We used Escoffery's recommended steps to guide our adaptation process. Data were thematically coded and adaptations documented using the FRAME for reporting modifications to evidence-based interventions.Informed by the data, we grouped IMARA content into four sessions for Floreciendo, each with unique curricular content and designed to be delivered in two hours (eight hours total): (1) Foundations in Sexual Risk Prevention; (2) Condoms and Contraception; (3) Family Strengthening; and (4) Gender and Relationships. We documented adaptations made for each session. For example, participants emphasized unplanned pregnancy as an important issue facing Latina teens. In response, we added an activity providing hands-on experience with contraceptive methods. Participants also highlighted how gender norms and family expectations in Latine culture shape Latina teens' sexual and reproductive health practices. We therefore developed activities and opportunities for discussion addressing these cultural influences. We removed IMARA activities considered of lower priority (e.g., portrayal of women in the media).This study addresses gaps in the literature by reporting in detail the adaptations we made to an evidence-based intervention using qualitative methods. The four curriculum sessions we generated through our adaptation process will form the basis of the intervention components we will test in future work using the multiphase optimization strategy (MOST) framework.

Authors & Co-authors:  Merrill Katherine G KG Fuentes Jacqueline J Merrill Jamison J DeCelles Jeff J Silva Jacqueline J Sedeño Angela A Salgado Susana S Vargas Sara S Cano Jennifer K JK Nabor Veronica V Rodriguez Laura L Melgoza Vanessa V Mora Corin C Baumann Ana A AA Guastaferro Kate K Donenberg Geri R GR

Study Outcome 

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Statistics
Citations :  Stirman S, Baumann A, Miller C. The FRAME: an expanded framework for reporting adaptations and modifications to evidence-based interventions. Implement Sci. (2019) 14:58. doi: 10.1186/s13012-019-0898-y, PMID:
Authors :  16
Identifiers
Doi : 1501757
SSN : 2296-2565
Study Population
Female,Women,Female
Mesh Terms
Humans
Other Terms
CBPR;FRAME;Latina;adaptation;adolescence;intimate partner violence;mental health;sexual and reproductive health
Study Design
Study Approach
Qualitative,Systemic Review
Country of Study
Publication Country
Switzerland