Father-Son Sexual Health Communication Intervention to Prevent Risky Sexual Behaviors in African American Boys

Background and Purpose:

African-American male youth are disproportionately affected by sexually transmitted diseases and HIV. Although clear communication between parents and their youth about sexual health is associated with higher rates of sexual abstinence, condom use, and intent to delay initiation of sexual intercourse, barriers exist for African American fathers to educate their youth about sexual health. The purpose of this study is to test a father intervention to prevent at risk sexual behaviors in African American male youth between 10-15 years old. The intervention (maximum of three one-hour sessions) was designed to increase fathers' efficacy (e.g., confidence) to communicate factual sexual health information with their sons.

Our central hypothesis is that fathers who have accurate information about STIs and know how to convey it will have more effective father-son communication about sex. The proposed research is guided by social cognitive theory, which suggests that fathers with self-efficacy are more likely to take an active role in teaching boys how to avoid risky sexual behavior. Additionally, based on the Reasoned Action Model, we hypothesize that sons will have more appropriate attitudes, intent and behavior regarding engaging in sexual activity because their fathers will influence factors that impede sons' good intentions and decision-making. Further, we examined whether fathers' increased (a) knowledge about infectious disease and (b) self-efficacy with communicating with their sons increased their sons' (c) knowledge about STI and sons’ attitudes, intentions and behaviors regarding sex outcomes.

Methods 

Sample: There were 71 fathers/father figures of African American or biracial sons (N = 81). Fathers’ age  M = 44.51. SD = 5.51 and Sons’ age M = 12.75, SD = 1.61.

Data Collection: Data collection and intervention were conducted at barbershops and the community. Participants were assessed pre-intervention baseline and immediate post intervention. Completion time was approximately 15 minutes. Participants received monetary incentives for completing standardized measures on key areas such as STI knowledge, parenting self-efficacy talking about sex.

Data Analysis: t-tests for independent means were performed to determine significant differences in outcomes across conditions. Pearson’s r analyses were conducted to determine the relationship between IVs and DVs.

Results

The intervention enhanced fathers’ self-efficacy talking to their sons about sex; increased fathers’ knowledge about STDs/HIV; fathers’ self-efficacy was negatively related to sons’ wanting to have sex. The intervention increased sons’ knowledge about STIs and HIV; sons in the intervention group had more appropriate attitudes, intentions and behaviors regarding sex than sons in the wait-list control group. Fathers’ self-efficacy in talking with their sons about sex was positively related to sons’ attitudes, intentions and behaviors regarding sex than sons in the wait-list control group.

Conclusion

Social workers can implement culturally competent and gender-sensitive interventions to address communication barriers that prevent fathers from  protecting their sons from sexual health risks. Explicit benefit: Fathers can learn and apply viable strategies to talk with their sons about sexual health and avoiding risky sexual behaviors to prevent sexually transmitted diseases/ infections and HIV in African American male youth.