Use of Media Technologies by Native American Teens and Young Adults: Evaluating their Utility for Designing Culturally-Appropriate Sexual Health Interventions Targeting Native Youth in the Pacific Northwest

Abstract

Technology use was exceptionally common and diverse among survey respondents, mirroring patterns reported by teens in the general population. Seventyii five percent of AI/AN youth reported using the Internet, 78% reported using cell phones, and 36% reported playing video games on a daily or weekly basis. Thirty-five percent reported that they would feel most comfortable getting sexual health information from the Internet, and 44% reported having done so in the past. Youth expressed interest in a wide array of interactive media features, and culturally-specific content that holistically encompassed their wide-ranging health interests and concerns.

Resilience among Urban American Indian Adolescents: Exploration into the Role of Culture, Self-esteem, Subjective Well-being, and Social Support

“…While data from the Native Youth Media Survey offered insight into which technologies were most often used by AI/AN youth, the literature review and additional CBPR activities provided critical information needed to select strategies that aligned to the priorities and organizational capacities of the Northwest tribes (Craig Rushing, 2010). The literature review provided partners with a better understanding of the types of technology-based interventions that were possible, and the skills and resources that would be needed to implement them.…”

“…Twenty-nine interventions were selected for systematic review based on their delivery method (computer, Internet, cell phone, video game, interactive video/DVD), health focus (STD, HIV, or pregnancy prevention; abstinence, condom or contraception use; STD/HIV testing), and intended outcome (changes in behavior, knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, or skills). Both researchers coded the interventions independently on variables of interest to the study in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet (see Table 2 and Craig Rushing [2010] for intervention matrices and operational definitions).…”

“…As shown in Table 2, 29 interventions fulfilled the project's inclusion criteria for systematic review (see Appendices of Craig Rushing [2010] for intervention abstracts and additional matrices).…”

“…being used to disseminate health information and teach users new skills. To support healthy behavior change, research in the field suggests that technology-based interventions incorporate several important components, including: (a) messages that are tailored to the needs of the user; (b) features that enhance social support and communication; (c) content that is interactive and multimedia;(d) features that promote repeated use of the intervention; and, like other behavioral interventions, (e) content that addresses the core risk and protective factors associated with health outcomes (CraigRushing, 2010;Noar, Black, & Pierce, 2009).…”

Entrepreneurship education: A strength-based approach to substance use and suicide prevention for American Indian adolescents

“…NW tribal health representatives, teen pregnancy prevention staff, tribal leaders, and other community stakeholders attended quarterly Coalition meetings. In January 2009, an intertribal HIV/STI Action Plan was written by the Coalition and approved by the NW tribes (Project Red Talon, 2009 (Craig Rushing, 2010). During subsequent Coalition meetings, participants selected VOICES and Safe in the City, as they were deemed to be: (a) community centered, (b) culturally relevant, (c) adaptable, and (d) capable of being disseminated easily across the Indian healthcare system.…”