Exit Interviews from Adolescent Girls Who Participated in a Sexual Risk‐Reduction Intervention: Implications for Community‐Based Health Education Promotion for Adolescents

Abstract

Introduction The purpose of this study was to invite girls who participated in a gender-specific, sexual risk-reduction intervention to describe their experiences and identify program characteristics most or least beneficial to their involvement. Method Semi-structured interviews were completed with 26 African American, low income girls ages 15–19 who had participated in a sexual risk reduction intervention as part of a randomized controlled trial. The girls were interviewed after completing a 12-month post-intervention survey. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and analyzed for categories. Results Analyses of the interview data identified six categories: 1) reasons for participating, 2) strategies for maintaining behavior changes, 3) interacting with others, 4) communicating with mothers, 5) disseminating information to friends and family, and 6) disseminating information to the males in the community. Implications and Conclusions Many of the girls participating in the theory-based behavior change intervention reported selecting from a “menu” of strategies learned through the intervention to reduce their sexual risk. Having the opportunity to discuss sexual health with peers and trained facilitators, particularly in an all-female environment, was cited as a positive benefit. Community health organizations and clinicians who care for adolescent girls can adapt many aspects of this intervention to help reduce their sexual risk.

Age at first intercourse and subsequent sexual partnering among adult women in the United States, a cross-sectional study

“…Historically, risk reduction programs for sexually experienced youth have focused on return to abstinence, use of condoms or contraceptive devices or reduced frequency of intercourse [ 30 ]. Our findings support the need to include skill-based messages on strategies for reducing risk such as the use of assertive statements and introduction of sex only with trusted partners [ 45 ].…”

Understanding the “Why” for High-Risk Behavior: Adolescent Girls' Motivations for Sex

“…Participants reported on history of pregnancy, childbearing, and parenting. Participants also reported their current and past risk behaviors including number of sexual partners and the number of sexual episodes of protected (condoms) and unprotected (without condoms) vaginal and anal sex (Morrison-Beedy, 2012; Morrison-Beedy, Carey, Crean, & Jones, 2011; Morrison-Beedy, Jones et al, 2013; Morrison-Beedy, Passmore, & Carey, 2013). …”

“…Specifically, four questions, previously documented for reliability and validity, assessed alcohol use in study participants (Carey et al, 2000; Carey et al, 2004; Carey et al, 1997; Morrison-Beedy et al, 2011). The questions assessed: (a) any alcohol use in the past 3 months, (b) quantity of alcohol, (c) frequency of use, and (d) binge-drinking (4 or more drinks on any one occasion; Morrison-Beedy et al, 2011; Morrison-Beedy et al, 2006; Morrison-Beedy, Passmore, & Carey, 2013). …”

Exit interviews administered to patients participating in the COSTOP placebo controlled randomised trial in Uganda

“…For intervention trials, like COSTOP, that include provider–client interactions, exit interviews with clients are recommended to monitor their understanding of the advice that was provided [3] . Laboratory based tests to detect the treatment under study are often non-existent or expensive, and therefore exit interviews conducted by independent research staff are an important way in which to evaluate adherence to study product [4] Findings from exit interviews have been reported in brief in many accounts of trial findings but the experience of using this technique has only occasionally been presented in standalone papers [5] , [6] .…”