6th UK and Ireland Implementation Science Research Conference 2023
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PRESENter
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Biography
Kate Merrill is a postdoctoral research associate at the Center for Dissemination and Implementation Science, within the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Department of Medicine. Her work focuses on designing, adapting, delivering, and evaluating social and behavioral interventions for vulnerable populations using an implementation science approach. Her current research centers on interventions addressing sexual and reproductive health, HIV, violence, and mental health among young people in Chicago and sub-Saharan Africa. She holds a PhD from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and an MSc from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
background
Latina teens are disproportionately impacted by adverse outcomes of risky sexual behavior. IMARA (Informed, Motivated, Aware, and Responsible Adolescents and Adults) is an evidence-based sexual health program for Black teen girls and their mothers. We set out to adapt IMARA for Latina teens and their female caregivers (FCs) (e.g., mothers, aunts) using the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment (EPIS) and Escoffery’s intervention adaptation frameworks.
MEthod
In the Exploration phase, we conducted 6 focus groups (2 with Latina teens, 2 with FCs, 2 with staff from community partner organizations (CPOs)) and a scoping review of evidence-based sexual and reproductive health (SRH) programs for Latina teens and families to assess the potential fit of IMARA for Latinas and identify key curriculum constructs to include. In the Preparation phase, we conducted 6 additional focus groups (1 with Latina teens, 1 with FCs, 3 with CPO staff, 1 with original IMARA facilitators) and 7 key informant interviews to determine how to implement and sustain the adapted program. Lastly, we theater-tested the adapted program with 5 Latina teen-FC dyads over two days.
results
Exploration phase findings revealed positive perceptions among all stakeholders of a SRH program to help Latina teens and FCs communicate about “taboo” topics in Latino culture. The scoping review identified 10 evidence-based SRH programs out of 3,970 studies screened. None targeted Latina teens and FC, reinforcing our decision to adapt IMARA. The 10 programs informed content to address in the adapted program (e.g., unplanned pregnancy). Preparation phase findings revealed how, when, and where to implement the program and sustainability ideas. Latina teens and FCs provided detailed feedback on curriculum content during theater testing.
Conclusion
Findings from the Exploration and Preparation phases will inform Implementation of the adapted intervention in a pilot optimization trial using the multiphase optimization strategy (MOST) framework and plans for Sustainment.