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Learning Objective 1: Identify influences which impact sexual behavior in urban low socioeconomic African American adolescent girls.
Learning Objective 2: Understand how the use of Photovoice and focus group methodology provided a viable means to explore the sexual behaviors of urban African American adolescents.
Aim: The aims of this study were to explore the perceptions of sexual health among African American adolescents, their decisions pertaining to sexual health, and their sexual health concerns.
Methods: This descriptive study utilized Photovoice and Focus Group methodology with a group of African American adolescents who all received care at a community health center. After informed consent, participants were instructed on the photovoice assignment and procedures. Participant photos were reviewed and the participant was interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Once all the individual interviews were conducted and transcribed, a focus group was held to discuss themes that emerged.
Results: Four major themes influenced the sexual health and at-risk sexual behavior of the participants: “It’s the stuff that you see and read” (Social Media), “Out in the open for anybody” (Environment), “My mom, my grandmom, and my baby daddy” (Family), and “Because of the connection” (Peers/Partners). Money proved to be more a motivator and became a poignant fact of how poverty alienates these girls from societal norms as they lack expectations about the future.
Conclusion: Photovoice offers a viable means to explore the perspective of AA adolescent girls and sexual influences in their lives. The results of this study have implications for primary care providers and provide a guide to assessment and intervention for sexual health behavior.