Use of Social Media to Support Gestational Diabetes Risk Reduction for American Indian and Alaska Native Females: A Qualitative Study Soliciting Perspectives From American Indian and Alaska Native Youth, Mothers, and Content Experts.

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to collect qualitative feedback from key stakeholders as to their recommendations for developing a behavior-change-focused social media toolkit for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) female youth who are at risk for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). AI/AN women experience a higher rate of GDM than women from most other racial and ethnic groups. The Stopping Gestational Diabetes in Daughters and Mothers (SGDM) program is designed to reduce GDM risk for AI/AN females.

Methods: Individual interviews were conducted with content experts (health care providers/educators, researchers, and social media experts) who serve AI/AN communities (n = 20), and focus group interviews were conducted with female AI/AN youth ages 12 to 21 (n = 20) and AI/AN mothers (n = 20). Interviews were conducted via teleconference by an experienced AI/AN moderator, and transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. Participants completed a survey assessing personal characteristics and technology use.

Results: All youth and mothers (100%) reported using social media daily; 60% of content experts reported daily social media use. Overarching themes included (1) negative aspects of social media use should be balanced with health-promoting messaging; (2) female AI/AN youth need positive AI/AN female role models, support, and connection to be healthy; (3) engage female AI/AN youth on social media through use of videos, humor, strengths-based messaging, and codevelopment of content.

Conclusion: Understanding the perspectives of content experts and members of the priority audience is a key first step in developing an AI/AN culturally relevant and community-engaged social media toolkit.