Development of a Video-Delivered Serial Drama Designed to Reduce Community Homophobia and HIV Stigma, Decrease Sexual Risk Behavior, and Increase HIV Testing Among Black Youth.

DIAGNOSIS of HIV infections; HIV infection risk factors; PSYCHOLOGY of Black people; ONLINE education; EVALUATION of medical care; HEALTH education; HUMAN sexuality; COMMUNITIES; HOMOPHOBIA; SOCIAL stigma; SOCIAL learning theory; RISK assessment; TREATMENT effectiveness; SEX customs; RESEARCH funding; SEXUAL minorities; PUBLIC spaces; COMMUNICATION; CLINICAL medicine; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; CONDOMS; DRAMA therapy; HEALTH promotion; INDUSTRIAL research; BEHAVIOR modification; AIDS; PSYCHOSOCIAL factors

This article describes the development of a video serial drama intervention that was designed to address factors that influence HIV in the United States among Black youth. These include HIV testing, sexual behaviors not protected by condoms, negative attitudes towards sexual minorities, and HIV stigma. Behavior-change principles (social learning theory and education-entertainment) and input from members of the priority audience formed the basis of this 27-episode (3 minutes each) drama for dissemination on multiple platforms, including in public spaces or privately online. The developmental process, specifically involving members of the population of interest and use of behavioral theory, enriched the narrative elements and likely ensured intervention acceptability, enhancing effectiveness. Public health practitioners and prevention programmers may want to consider using this intervention and/or the narrative communication approach when intervening to change behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]