Media Use and Access Among Low-Income Latino Girls 11-14 Years

Theoretical Background and research questions/hypothesis: Research shows that interventions utilizing mobile telephone short-message service (SMS) to deliver behavior change have produced positive short-term behavioral outcomes.  However, the use of SMS and other technology as a delivery tool for preventive health behaviors, such as physical activity, has not been adequately investigated, particularly among underserved populations.  The Physical Activity Partnership for Girls assessed the use of new media among Latino girls (11-14 years) in the San Antonio Westside in order to inform the development of a physical activity intervention that could incorporate low-cost, mobile, and wireless technology to promote health and connect youth to community resources. 

Methods: A survey assessing use of cell phones, computers, the internet, social networking, and gaming systems was administered to 100 girls.  The survey was programmed, using sound enhanced data collection application (SEDCA) software, onto personal digital assistant (PDA).  The SEDCA software allows for the programming of surveys with audio onto portable technology that use a windows mobile operating system.  The surveys were self administered, each girl received a PDA and headphones so that she could listen to the questions being read as they appeared on screen. 

Results: Preliminary analyses revealed that 58% of girls surveyed had regular access to a cell phone and used it an average of 6 hours a day 5 days per week , although 42% share the cell phone with a family member. The top three things girls do most often on their cell phones are:  making a voice call, sending text messages, and taking pictures/sending picture mail.  Although 64% of girls reported that their parents did not have rules about the amount of time they could spend on the cell phone, 73% of girls reported that they do have rules about the types of activities they could do on the cell phone.   Most girls (70%) also had a computer in their home, using it about 3 hours per day 4 days a week.    Girls access the internet via their home computers (54%) and cell phones (15%).  And 70% of girls use social networking sites, with MySpace and YouTube being the top two sites.  All surveyed girls also reported having a gaming system at home, with Wii (38%) and X-Box (23%) being the most popular.  Girls use gaming systems an average of 3 days per week for 3 hours per day, and 67% reported having no rules about the amount of time they could spend playing games.  

Conclusions: Low income Latino girls on the Westside of San Antonio are widely versed in new technology. This report highlights the potential for delivering a health promotion intervention using new media strategies. 

Implications for research and/or practice: The use of cellular and other new media technology is a valuable resource that holds potential for data collection and healthy lifestyle education and promotion.  Research must be done to understand the integration of health promotion messaging and widely-used technology in a culturally competent manner.