title: Victor and Erika Webnovela: An Innovative Generation @ Audience Engagement Strategy for Prevention.
abstract: Entertainment-education (E-E) approaches for young audiences continue to evolve in order to keep stride with younger generations' affinity for technology. E-E and novelas have been used with a wide variety of audiences in the United States, in particular hard-to-reach Latino populations, and have demonstrated effectiveness in disseminating culturally relevant prevention information for a wide variety of health-related risk factors and behaviors. This study discusses the formative research and active engagement of Latino youth living in Langley Park, Maryland, for the development and filming of an innovative 6-episode webnovela titled Victor and Erika (V&E). V&E is part of a larger branding strategy of the Adelante Positive Youth Development intervention that seeks to prevent substance abuse, sexual risk, and interpersonal violence among Latino youth; V&E is also an intervention component. The V&E webnovela is a dramatic portrayal of the lives of 2 immigrant Latino teenagers that also disseminates risk prevention messages. The storyline represents the turning the corner (to a better life) theme that underlies the Adelante intervention brand. Formative research was conducted for character development (n = 20) and creative development of the episodes (n = 14). Results of the formative research showed that youth recommended inclusion of the following topics in V&E episodes: sex, unintended pregnancy, fidelity, trust, family dynamics, immigration status, violence, school dropout, respect, home life, and poverty. Detailed character and episode descriptions are provided, and the implications of using the V&E series as a tool for in-person and online engagement of youth and the dissemination of prevention messages are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Prevention and Community Health , The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health , Washington , District of Columbia , USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.affiliation: a Department of Prevention and Community Health , The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health , Washington , District of Columbia , USA.
authors.forename: W Douglas
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.affiliation: a Department of Prevention and Community Health , The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health , Washington , District of Columbia , USA.
authors.forename: Marc C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Edberg
authors.affiliation: a Department of Prevention and Community Health , The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health , Washington , District of Columbia , USA.
authors.forename: Sean D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Cleary
authors.affiliation: b Maryland Multicultural Youth Centers , Hyattsville , Maryland , USA.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Villalba
authors.affiliation: a Department of Prevention and Community Health , The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health , Washington , District of Columbia , USA.
authors.forename: Idalina Cubilla
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Batista
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D009040:Motion Pictures; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014481:United States; D014754:Violence / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control