The Use of New Media to improve Access to Sexual Reproductive Health Services among Young Black Males in a Community-Based Setting

ABSTRACT The purpose of this proposed K-Award is to support my development as an independent investigator and my program of research, which involves new media to reduce infections and improve access to health services for young people in city-based settings, thereby enhancing a broad range of health outcomes. As it stands, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], transmitted infections (i.e., STIs) are a significant health challenge facing the United States. Each year, approximately 20 million individuals are diagnosed with an STI. STIs occur disproportionately in youth ages 13-24. Within this population, specifically young people between 18-24, endure compromised preventative health services (PHS) that are substandard compared to those of their peers of other backgrounds. Recent evidence documents the potential power of various forms of new media to promote safe behaviors and STI prevention among this population. This study aims to examine whether new media can positively inform, educate, and reach young people, resulting in improved utilization of healthcare and behaviors (i.e., SRH). To achieve my career goals, I need additional training in (1) advanced methodological training in data analysis, (2) mixed methods research, and (3) designing and implementing interventions. The strong mentoring team will help to address my knowledge gaps and support my growth as an independent investigator, ensuring that I reach each milestone during this rigorous process. The proposed research will apply an innovative methodology. This includes conducting a secondary analysis from a Barbershop-Based HIV/STD Reduction study in in the Philadelphia area (Aim 1), in-depth interviewing, and media data mining that will involve transcribing a large body of social media data using natural language processing (Aim 2), and finally a pilot intervention to assess feasibility and acceptability that will include a social media campaign and partners in metropolitan contexts who have contributed to the current health promotion and reduction of this population (Aim 3). The intervention will be designed to be easily accessible and disseminated. At the conclusion, the optimized intervention will be ready for evaluation in a large-scale randomized controlled trial.