The Development of Culturally Appropriate Tobacco Prevention Videos Targeted Toward Somali Youth

Background: Approximately 18% of Somali youth in Minnesota intend to use tobacco in the next year and youth perceive that 64% of their peers smoke. High perceived prevalence increases tobacco use intentions and initiation, indicating that Somali youth-targeted tobacco prevention efforts are needed. Objectives: To develop a Somali youth-targeted tobacco prevention intervention using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach. Methods: Three focus groups were conducted to inform the development of a tobacco prevention intervention. Three tobacco prevention videos were developed. Twenty interviews were conducted to evaluate the videos. Lessons Learned: It was essential to partner with Somali youth to develop the videos. Recruitment and development of the videos were facilitated through collaborating with trusted, existing community programs. Conclusions: A CBPR approach can be used to develop a culturally tailored intervention. It was important to involve academic and community partners in all stages of the research project.