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01-02-2016 | Literature Review

Culturally Grounded Prevention for Minority Youth Populations: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Authors: Michela Lauricella, Jessica K. Valdez, Scott K. Okamoto, Susana Helm, Colleen Zaremba

Published in: Journal of Prevention | Issue 1/2016

Abstract

Contemporary prevention science has focused on the application of cultural adaptations of evidence-based prevention programs for minority youth populations. Far less is known about culturally grounded methods that are intended to organically develop prevention programs within specific populations and communities. This article systematically reviews recent literature on culturally grounded interventions used to prevent health disparities in ethnic minority youth populations. In this review, we assessed 31 peer-reviewed articles published in 2003 or later that fit inclusionary criteria pertaining to the development and evaluation of culturally grounded prevention programs. The evaluated studies indicated different approaches toward cultural grounding, as well as specific populations, geographic regions, and health issues that have been targeted. Specifically, the findings indicated that most of the studies focused on the development and evaluation of culturally grounded HIV/STI and substance abuse prevention programs for Mexican–American, African American, and American Indian/Alaska Native youth residing in the South or Southwestern US. These studies largely relied on community-based participatory or qualitative research methods to develop programs from the “ground up.” This review has implications for the development of future culturally grounded and culturally adapted prevention programs targeting underserved minority youth populations and geographic regions. Specifically, it identifies populations and regions where culturally grounded prevention efforts are underdeveloped or non-existent, providing some scientific direction for the future development of these types of programs.

In this study, we defined culturally grounded prevention programs as those that have been developed from the “ground up,” or from the values, beliefs, and worldviews of the populations that the program was intended to serve (Lee et al., 2013; Okamoto et al., 2014).

In this study, we defined culturally adapted prevention programs as those that were tailored for a cultural group that were different from the group(s) for whom the original intervention was developed (Okamoto et al., 2014).

“R.E.A.L.” stands for “Refuse,” “Explain,” “Avoid,” and “Leave.” These are the primary drug resistance skills taught in the curriculum (Hecht, 2006).

The full name of the program in Swahili is “Mpango wa Elimu na Maadili ya Afya (MEMA) kwa Vijana,” which roughly translates to “program of education for health-related behavior for young people” (Hayes et al., 2005).

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Title: Culturally Grounded Prevention for Minority Youth Populations: A Systematic Review of the Literature
Authors: Michela Lauricella
Jessica K. Valdez
Scott K. Okamoto
Susana Helm
Colleen Zaremba
Publication date: 01-02-2016
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Prevention / Issue 1/2016
Print ISSN: 2731-5533
Electronic ISSN: 2731-5541
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10935-015-0414-3

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Culturally Grounded Prevention for Minority Youth Populations: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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