Document Type

Capstone Experience

Graduation Date

12-2025

Degree Name

Master of Public Health

Department

Health Promotion

First Committee Member

Michelle (Shelley) Strong, PhD, MPH, MFA, CHES®

Second Committee Member

Siobhan Wescott, MD, MPH

Third Committee Member

Caitlin Ray, PhD

Abstract

In the United States, an estimated 20 million new sexually transmitted infections occur annually, with half of the cases occurring in adolescents. The infection rate among African American adolescents is four times higher than that among white adolescents. Although many types of interventions exist, few are specifically designed for African American adolescents. In conducting this comprehensive literature review and synthesis, I examined the effectiveness of existing interventions in creating behavioral change among African American adolescents by applying the health belief model to interpret and organize the findings. The databases PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar were searched on October 1, 2025. Studies were screened for inclusion based on the following criteria: published between January 2015 and September 2025, involving a population aged 15-24 years, and consisting of a majority of African American individuals. Findings suggest that interventions incorporating demonstrations of proper ways to use contraception, strategies for effective partner communication, and support for self-efficacy among African American adolescents can promote meaningful behavioral change. This review indicates that future research and interventions should incorporate culturally specific aspects for African American adolescents to improve the effectiveness in creating behavioral change and, in turn, reducing the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections.

Keywords: Adolescents, African American, Sexually Transmitted Infections, Interventions

Download

Included in

Public Health Commons

Share

COinS