# My Health, My Future: Promotion of Protective sexual health practices among Apache Youth and young adults through an assests-based self-care intervention

> **NIH NIH S06** · WHITE MOUNTAIN APACHE TRIBE · 2020 · $204,925

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY:
The goal of My Health My Future is to develop and test the efficacy of a self-care intervention for
sexual health promotion among American Indian youth and young adults through an assets-based
approach. The study population is the White Mountain Apache Tribe (Apache), who have a 30-year
history of pioneering research in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian
Health (JHU). The intervention will advance a new line of sexual health self-care research and
includes a brief self-assessment, corresponding personalized messaging delivered via text, phone
and email, and non-clinic based alternatives for STI screening and HPV immunization. The
intervention will be rooted in asset theory, which is congruent with Native beliefs about wellness, and
a positive youth development framework. Apaches ages 11-26 (n=312) will be individually
randomized to receive the self-care intervention or comparison condition (standard of care). We will
evaluate the impact of the self-care intervention vs. comparison on the primary outcome of STI
screening uptake among sexually active youth. Secondary outcomes will include: a) sexual risk and
protective behaviors; b) HPV vaccine coverage (completion of doses 2 or 3); and c) psychosocial
assets and resources. All outcomes will be evaluated via Audio Computer-Assisted Self-Interview
technology at baseline and 6-months post-intervention. A subset of outcomes will be measured bi-
weekly via text message throughout the follow-up time period. This proposal is urgent, innovative and
has potential for significant impact because: 1) American Indian youth and young adults have the
highest rates of STIs in the US; 2) American Indians have high incidence and mortality from cervical
cancer but low uptake of HPV vaccination by youth; 3) alternatives to provider-driven, clinic-based
treatment are needed in communities where sexual health disparities are perpetuated by differential
access to care, geographic isolation and confidentiality concerns; and 4) the Apache-JHU research
team has successfully demonstrated the feasibility and acceptability of self-management and assets-
based approaches to improving health outcomes in past NARCH endeavors. If study aims are
achieved, we will have a novel, self-care intervention available for American Indian communities that
seek alternative strategies for sexual health care.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10021002
- **Project number:** 5S06GM123547-04
- **Recipient organization:** WHITE MOUNTAIN APACHE TRIBE
- **Principal Investigator:** MARIDDIE J CRAIG
- **Activity code:** S06 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $204,925
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-21 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10021002

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10021002, My Health, My Future: Promotion of Protective sexual health practices among Apache Youth and young adults through an assests-based self-care intervention (5S06GM123547-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10021002. Licensed CC0.

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