¡Cuídate!, which means "take care of yourself," is a culturally-based, group-level intervention to reduce HIV sexual risk behavior among Latino youth. It is based on Social Cognitive Theory, Theory of Reasoned Action, and Theory of Planned Behavior, and incorporates cultural beliefs that are common among Latino subgroups and associated with sexual risk behavior
¡Cuídate! consists of six 1-hour modules delivered over a minimum of 2 days to groups of 6 to 10 youth. ¡Cuídate! can be delivered in community centers, schools, etc. by health educators, counselors, health care providers, etc. HIV/AIDS knowledge, condom negotiation, refusal of sex, and correct condom use skills are taught through interactive games, group discussion, role-plays, video, music, and mini-lectures.
¡Cuídate! targets Spanish and non-Spanish speaking Latino youth, ages 13 to 18.
General Training Information for ¡Cuídate!
The ¡Cuídate! Training of Facilitators (TOF) is 3 days. The training is intended for adult facilitators who will conduct the training with adolescent participants and have the following experience:
- Working with adolescents (13-18 years old)
- Working with the Latino community
- Group facilitation skills
Research and Development
Villarruel, A.M., Jemmott, J.B. III, and Jemmott, L.S. (2006). A radomized controlled trial testing an HIV prevention intervention for Latino youth. Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine, 160, 772-777.
Gallegos, E.C., Villarruel, A.M., Loveland-Cherry, C., Ronis, D.L., and Zhou, Y. (2008). Intervención para reducir riesgo en conductas sexuales de adolescents: Un ensayo aleatorizado y controlado [Intervention to reduce sexual risk behavior in adolescents: A randomized controlled trial]. Salud Pública de México, 50(1): 59-66.
Program Review Panel Information
The CDC requires all CDC-funded agencies using the ¡Cuídate! intervention to identify, or establish, and utilize a Program Review
Panel and complete Form 0.1113 to document this activity. The
intervention researchers and developers are not involved in this
activity. This is a CDC requirement for their grantees, and all
questions in this regard should be directed to your agency's CDC
Project Officer or to the health department funding your agency's
implementation of the intervention.
The Program Review Panel guidelines, instructions for completion of Form 0.113, and the form itself are available under the Related Links section of the this website.
CDC Policy on Youth Peer Outreach Workers
CDC funded (directly or indirectly) agencies using youth (either
paid or volunteer) in program outreach activities need to use caution
and judgement in the venues/situations where youth workers are placed.
Agencies should give careful consideration to the "age appropriateness"
of the activity or venue. Additionally, agencies should comply with all
relevant laws and regulations regarding entrance into adult
establishments/environments. Laws and curfews should be clearly
outlined in required safety protocols developed and implemented by
agencies directly and indirectly funded by CDC.
If you have specific questions, please contact your CDC project officer.