Whats Good

with

Effectively Communicating Sexual Health among the Hip/Hop Generation;

A Snapshot of African American Youth Perspectives in the District of Columbia
Jana Baldwin, MPH Candidate
Culminating Experience/Final Project George Washington University School of Public Health January 2009

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Presentation Outline
Background Methods Results Conclusions/Recommendations

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Background: DC Youth & Sexual Health

Youth: 14-25 yrs old Hip/hop generation DC and HIV/AIDS
179.2 cases per 100,000 people Nearly 1000 DC youth are infected with AIDS Since 1984 youth under 25 yrs old represent 5-6% of all DC AIDS 10% of the 4027 HIV cases in DC from 2001-2005 were represented by residents ages 13-24

DC leads nation in highest teen pregnancy Low birth weights District of Columbia Public Schools recently initiated comprehensive sexual education (as of 1/09) ALWAYS ON:
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District of Columbia Committee on Health: Youth Sexual Health Project

Councilmember David Catania launched the Youth Sexual Health Project Interned for CM Catanias committee on Health advocating for the Save Lives Free the Condoms campaign New Media Survey
Develop Survey Integrate tools into school curriculum
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Public Health Significance

Effectively reaching DC Youth could
Teen pregnancy STIs/STDs HIV/AIDS Disparities among the black community Sexual health education

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Health Objectives
Conduct interviews to gain perspectives and demographic data to evaluate effective sexual health communication channels among African American youth in the District of Columbia.

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Specific Aims
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Cell phone usage & ownership Computer & Internet Ownership/Usage Where youth get their sexual health information Awareness of Sexual Health Campaigns Should hip/hop artists be sending health messages?

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Methods
Intercept Interviews
Materials Procedures
3 part survey
Demographic Survey Sexual Health Survey Awareness Hip/hop disseminating health messages

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Survey 1: Awareness of Sexual Health Campaigns

Do you recognize this logo/campaign? Do you like the way the logo/campaign looks?

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Survey 2: Hip/hop celebrities & health messages

Do you like this celebrity? Would you like to hear a health message from them?
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Results: Demographic Data

Table 1. Demographic Data
Race/Ethnicity Gende r Age of Survey
Youth by Age By percent
14 4% 15 10% 16 11% 17 8%

52 African Americans*
*bi-racial, m ixed, African, black, other, black/African Americ a n

15 Females/ 37 Males 14-25 years old Medium age: 18 4 outliers

18 8% 19 10% 20 10% 21 8% 22 4% 23 4% 24 1% 25 4%
Did not respond

21%

Intercept Survey Locatio n s Survey Respondents by Quadrant s

SW:

Chinatown/Galleryplace Metro Stop SW Public Housing Complex Columbia Heights Metro Stop 12 SE: 12

NW: 13

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NE: 15

Is there a Digital Divide?

Table 2.1 Digital Data Ownership/Usership
Do you have a cell phone? Who pays your Bill? How often do you text?

Yes
No

8 1%
19%

I do
Guardian A lil In the middle

64%
37% 10% 7%

Do you send text messages? Is your plan prepaid? Do you have a computer at home? Is your internet broadband or in other words is it fast?

All da y long Yes

No Yes

83% 9 8%
2% 17%

No Yes
No NA

8 3% 8 6%
2% 12%

Yes
No NA

8 7%
1.5% 11.5%

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If I look up health information about sex I . . .

Table 2.2 If I look up health information aBout Sex I. . .
*Respondents could circle more than one answer

A. Go to a website that I know has sexual health information and sear ch for the answer B. IM a friend on facebook or MySpace C. Google it D. E-mail a question and wa it for a reply on a website that has information ab out sexual health E. IM a stranger in a c hat room F. L ook for the answer on YouTube

2 4%
8%

4 7%
6%

0%
4%

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Youth Awareness of Sexual Health Campaigns

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Best Sexual Health Campaign

Table 3.3 opinion of Best Sexual Health Campaign among DC African American youth
*Respondents could circ le more than one answer

The best campaign I saw today during the survey was: A. RealTalk 13% Metro TeenAids B. Rap-it-up 5 0% Black Entertainment Television (BET) C. Get a Wrap District of Columbia Department of 3% Health D. Go Gorilla 0% Streetwize G YT
(Get Yourself Tested)

MTV ****** Didnt Answer

10%

2 4%

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Should Hip/hop artists be sending health messages?

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Best way of receiving health information about sex . . .

Table 4.3 Best way of Receiving health information about sex among DC African American Youth
*Respondents could circle more than one answer

The best way I receive health information about sex is through: A. My Pare nts/Guardian B. Text Messages from Someone I trust C. School/teachers D. My best friends E. B oyfriend/girlfriend F. My doctor/nurse G. Online information (and where I go online ___ ____ ) H. Community health clinic

29%
8% 13% 4% 2%

3 1%
5% 7.7%

I . Cel ebr ities

. 3%

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Conclusion
Limited digital divide Google BETs Rap-it-up Youth want to hear from hip/hop artists Youth ARE listening to parents and the health professionals
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Recommendations
1. Create a Micro-Campaign Rap-it-up, DC

2. Hire DC youth, parents, & health professionals to be involved in creating the campaign 3. Incorporate parent/health professional in target audience
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Recommendations Continued
4. Should hip/hop artists be disseminating health messages? 5. Create an extensive sexual health texting campaign
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Acknowledgements
Valerie Fox, Kafui Doe, Alison Shaffer, Kafui Doe, Kiana Bess, Stella Henley, Atlantis Williams, Sombo Pujeh, James Malone Jeff McAllister, my assistant, MPH candidate Gabriel Benn, Hip/Hop Education Lyrics Karyn Pomerantz, Dr. Olga Price, Howard Straker, Jerry Franz, Dr. Lorien Abroms DC youth DC Council Committee on Health WMATAs Metro Transit Police Department Family

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Questions?

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