Developing new research approaches to engage rural and northern youth in a social determinants analysis of sexual health outcomes

We will develop new participatory research approaches and tools to engage rural and northern youth in a social determinants analysis of sexual health outcomes. We will develop two new tools: (1) Checklist to Assess Research Engaging Youth (CAREY) and (2) Guidelines for Youth Leading Population Health Research (GYLPHR). The CAREY will be designed to be used by research gatekeepers and researchers themselves to determine the extent to which new research proposals engage youth in truly participatory research models. The CAREY can also assess how well a particular study protocol fits with youth¿s expectations regarding the conduct of participatory research (similar to the ways OCAP Guidelines are employed in assessing research involving Aboriginal peoples). The GYLPHR will be designed for use by youth (and their research partners) to facilitate youth¿s initiation of new, participatory research that addresses the social determinants of sexual health disparities. The approaches and tools developed here hold excellent promise for repositioning youth as research partners, rather than simply as research subjects/objects. The pilot results will reorient sexual health analyses away from individual risk and problematizes youth sexual health using a social determinants rubric.