HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infection Prevention Intervention in the Northwest Territories

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Sexually Transmitted Diseases; HIV
• Interventions: Behavioral: FOXY

• Registration Number: NCT02743026
• Lead Sponsor: University of Toronto

Brief Summary

Indigenous youth are disproportionately represented in new HIV infection rates in Canada. Limited studies have evaluated longitudinal effects of arts-based approaches to HIV prevention with youth. The authors present a rationale and study protocol for an arts-based HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STI) prevention intervention with Northern and Indigenous youth in the Northwest Territories (NWT), Canada. This is a multi-centre non-randomised cohort pilot study using a pre-test/post-test design with a 12-month follow-up. The target population is Northern and Indigenous youth in eighteen communities in the NWT. The aim is to recruit 150 youth using venue-based sampling at secondary schools. Participants will be involved in an arts-based intervention, Fostering Open eXpression among Youth (FOXY). Participants will complete a pre-test, post-test survey directly following the intervention, and a 12-month follow up.

Detailed Description

Introduction: Indigenous youth are disproportionately represented in new HIV infection rates in Canada. Current and historical contexts of colonization and racism, disconnection from culture and land, as well as intergenerational trauma resulting from the legacy of residential schools are social drivers that elevate exposure to HIV among Indigenous peoples. Peer-education and arts-based interventions are increasingly used for HIV prevention with youth. Yet limited studies have evaluated longitudinal effects of arts-based approaches to HIV prevention with youth. The authors present a rationale and study protocol for an arts-based HIV prevention intervention with Northern and Indigenous youth in the Northwest Territories (NWT), Canada.

Methods \& Analysis: This is a multi-centre non-randomised cohort pilot study using a pre-test/post-test design with a 12-month follow-up. The target population is Northern and Indigenous youth in eighteen communities in the NWT. The aim is to recruit 150 youth using venue-based sampling at secondary schools. Participants will be involved in an arts-based intervention, Fostering Open eXpression among Youth (FOXY). Participants will complete a pre-test, post-test survey directly following the intervention, and a 12-month follow up. The primary outcome is new or enhanced HIV knowledge, and secondary outcomes to include: new or enhanced STI knowledge, and increased self-esteem, resilience, empowerment, safer sex self-efficacy, and cultural connectedness. Mixed effects regression analyses will be conducted to evaluate pre- and post-test differences in outcome measurement scores.

Ethics and Dissemination: This study has received approval from the HIV Research Ethics Board at the University of Toronto (REB: 31602).

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2015-10
• Study First Submitted: 2016-04-11
• Study First Submitted QC: 2016-04-18
• Study First Posted: 2016-04-19
• Primary Completion: 2018-06
• Study Completion: 2018-06-30
• Status Verified: 2019-09
• Last Update Submitted: 2019-09-16
• Last Update Posted: 2019-09-19

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Female
• Target Recruitment: 199

Inclusion Criteria

• participating in FOXY
• self-identify as a woman
• live in the Northwest Territories
• between the ages of 13 and 16 years of age
• capable of providing informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

• did not participate in FOXY
• not between 13-16 years old
• don't live in the Northwest Territories
• not capable of providing informed consent

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Intervention	FOXY	participants will complete the FOXY intervention

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
HIV knowledge (Questionnaire)	12 month follow up	Brief HIV Knowledge Questionnaire

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
safer sex self-efficacy (Scale)	12 month follow up	Safer Sex Self-Efficacy Scale
cultural connectedness (Scale)	12 month follow up	Awareness of Connectedness Scale
Sexually Transmitted Infections knowledge (Questionnaire)	12 month follow up	Sexually Transmitted Disease Knowledge Questionnaire
Self-esteem (scale)	12 month follow up	Self-esteem scale

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Toronto, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work; 🇨🇦 Toronto, Ontario, Canada