Pre-risk HIV-prevention paradigm shift: the feasibility and acceptability of the parents matter! Program in HIV risk communities.
OBJECTIVE
Many youth begin human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) sexual risk behaviors in preadolescence, yet risk-reduction programs are typically implemented in middle or late adolescence, missing an important window for prevention. Parent-based programming may play an important role in reaching youth early with prevention messages. One such program is the Parents Matter! Program (PMP), a five-session theory- and evidence-based intervention for parents of children aged 9 to 12 years. A randomized controlled trial showed PMP to be efficacious in promoting effective parent-child communication about sexuality and sexual risk reduction. We assessed the feasibility and acceptability of PMP when implemented under typical programmatic circumstances in communities at high risk for HIV infection.


METHODS
We selected 15 sites (including health departments, local education agencies, community-based organizations, and faith-based organizations) throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico to participate in delivering PMP. Sites were provided training, program materials, and ongoing technical assistance. We collected multilevel data to assess the feasibility of program implementation and delivery, program relevance, and satisfaction with PMP activities and materials.


RESULTS
PMP was successfully implemented and evaluated in 13 of 15 sites; 76% of parents attended at least four of five sessions. Organization-, facilitator-, and parent-level data indicated the feasibility and acceptability of PMP, and overall high satisfaction with PMP activities and materials.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this project demonstrate that HIV pre-risk prevention programs for parents can be implemented and embraced by a variety of community organizations in HIV at-risk communities. The time to embrace parents as partners in public health HIV-prevention efforts has come.
Miller
Kim S
KS
Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd. NE, MS E-45, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. kmiller@cdc.gov
Maxwell
Karl D
KD
Fasula
Amy M
AM
Parker
J Terry
JT
Zackery
Shannon
S
Wyckoff
Sarah C
SC
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations / Q000208:ethnology; D010290:Parents; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011647:Puerto Rico; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D014481:United States
JAMA. 1989 Jun 9;261(22):3259-66
2785610
J Consult Clin Psychol. 1990 Aug;58(4):437-46
2212181
J Adolesc Health. 2005 Sep;37(3):211-9
16109340
Nestle Nutr Workshop Ser Pediatr Program. 2006;57:1-273
16632971
MMWR Recomm Rep. 2006 Sep 22;55(RR-14):1-17; quiz CE1-4
16988643
J Sex Res. 2006 Nov;43(4):378-86
17599259
Eval Rev. 1995 Apr 1;19(2):159-180
20871746
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2007 Dec;161(12):1123-9
18056556
Prev Med. 2003 Dec;37(6 Pt 1):617-26
14636795
MMWR Surveill Summ. 2008 Jun 6;57(4):1-131
18528314
J Adolesc Health. 2001 Jan;28(1):41-5
11137905
Am J Clin Nutr. 2003 Nov;78(5):1030-8
14594792
Am J Public Health. 1998 Oct;88(10):1542-4
9772860
Pediatrics. 2001 Sep;108(3):712-8
11533341
Am J Public Health. 2007 Jan;97(1):133-43
17138920
JAMA. 2008 Aug 6;300(5):520-9
18677024