The Respecting the Circle of Life trial for American Indian adolescents: rationale, design, methods, and baseline characteristics

Abstract

This paper describes the rationale, design, methods, and baseline results of a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the impact of an adapted evidence-based intervention (EBI), “Respecting the Circle of Life” (RCL) to reduce behavioral risks for HIV/AIDS among American Indian (AI) adolescents. A participatory approach shaped intervention adaptation and study design. A total of 267 participants (aged 13–19) were randomized by peer groups of the same sex to receive the RCL intervention or a control condition. Self-report assessments were administered at four intervals. The sample was predominately female (57%), had low HIV knowledge prevention scores, early sexual initiation (mean 14.6 years), and 56% reported intention to use a condom at next sex. Baseline characteristics were evenly distributed between groups with the exception of age and extrinsic reward scores. This is the first rigorous evaluation of an adapted EBI for HIV/AIDS prevention among AI adolescents, an at-risk and understudied population.

Keywords:

• American Indian
• adolescents
• HIV/AIDS
• evidence-based intervention
• randomized controlled trial
• paraprofessional interventionists

Acknowledgments

We respectfully acknowledge the youth who participated in this study and all study team members. We give thanks to tribal leaders and community stakeholders who generously contributed time and wisdom to shaping the research protocol.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Native American Research Centers for Health under [grant number U26IHS300286/03].