Implementing youth advisory boards with sexual minority adolescents and young men: sharing experiences, challenges and opportunities from East, South, and West Africa - PMC Skip to main content An official website of the United States government Here's how you know Here's how you know Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock Locked padlock icon ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Search Log in Dashboard Publications Account settings Log out Search… Search NCBI Primary site navigation Search Logged in as: Dashboard Publications Account settings Log in Search PMC Full-Text Archive Search in PMC Journal List User Guide PERMALINK Copy As a library, NLM provides access to scientific literature. Inclusion in an NLM database does not imply endorsement of, or agreement with, the contents by NLM or the National Institutes of Health. Learn more: PMC Disclaimer | PMC Copyright Notice editorial Trials . 2026 Mar 11;27:307. doi: 10.1186/s13063-026-09596-5 Search in PMC Search in PubMed View in NLM Catalog Add to search Implementing youth advisory boards with sexual minority adolescents and young men: sharing experiences, challenges and opportunities from East, South, and West Africa Sylvia Adebajo Sylvia Adebajo 1 Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA 2 Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria 3 Division of Global Health Sciences, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA Find articles by Sylvia Adebajo 1, 2, 3, ✉ , Taylor Lascko Taylor Lascko 1 Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA Find articles by Taylor Lascko 1 , Marie-Claude C Lavoie Marie-Claude C Lavoie 1 Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA 3 Division of Global Health Sciences, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA Find articles by Marie-Claude C Lavoie 1, 3 , Akipu Ehoche Akipu Ehoche 1 Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA Find articles by Akipu Ehoche 1 , Chester Mutumba Chester Mutumba 4 Ciheb Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia Find articles by Chester Mutumba 4 , Nicholas Shima Aernan Nicholas Shima Aernan 5 International Centre for Advocacy On Right to Health, Abuja, Nigeria Find articles by Nicholas Shima Aernan 5 , Nathan Nganga Nathan Nganga 6 Partners for Health and Development in Africa, Nairobi, Kenya Find articles by Nathan Nganga 6 , Benson Njoroge Benson Njoroge 6 Partners for Health and Development in Africa, Nairobi, Kenya Find articles by Benson Njoroge 6 , Philip Daniel Chinseu Philip Daniel Chinseu 7 Centre for the Development of People, Lilongwe, Malawi Find articles by Philip Daniel Chinseu 7 , Richard Gichuki Richard Gichuki 6 Partners for Health and Development in Africa, Nairobi, Kenya Find articles by Richard Gichuki 6 , Olawole Ayorinde Olawole Ayorinde 2 Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria Find articles by Olawole Ayorinde 2 , Ojore Godday Aghedo Ojore Godday Aghedo 8 Centre for Population Health Initiatives, Lagos, Nigeria Find articles by Ojore Godday Aghedo 8 , Kennedy Sambambi Kennedy Sambambi 4 Ciheb Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia Find articles by Kennedy Sambambi 4 , Gift Ndalumbira Gift Ndalumbira 7 Centre for the Development of People, Lilongwe, Malawi Find articles by Gift Ndalumbira 7 , Maria Chinoko Ngulube Maria Chinoko Ngulube 7 Centre for the Development of People, Lilongwe, Malawi Find articles by Maria Chinoko Ngulube 7 , John Chama John Chama 2 Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria Find articles by John Chama 2 , Elizabeth Shoyemi Elizabeth Shoyemi 8 Centre for Population Health Initiatives, Lagos, Nigeria Find articles by Elizabeth Shoyemi 8 , Gift Trapence Gift Trapence 7 Centre for the Development of People, Lilongwe, Malawi Find articles by Gift Trapence 7 , Joshua Kimani Joshua Kimani 6 Partners for Health and Development in Africa, Nairobi, Kenya Find articles by Joshua Kimani 6 , Cassidy W Claassen Cassidy W Claassen 1 Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA 4 Ciheb Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia Find articles by Cassidy W Claassen 1, 4 , Nadia A Sam-Agudu Nadia A Sam-Agudu 2 Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria 9 Global Pediatrics Program and Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN USA Find articles by Nadia A Sam-Agudu 2, 9 , Lisa Hightow-Weidman Lisa Hightow-Weidman 10 Institute On Digital Health and Innovation, College of Nursing, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL USA Find articles by Lisa Hightow-Weidman 10 , Man Charurat Man Charurat 1 Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA 3 Division of Global Health Sciences, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA Find articles by Man Charurat 1, 3 ; RISE Study Author information Article notes Copyright and License information 1 Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA 2 Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria 3 Division of Global Health Sciences, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA 4 Ciheb Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia 5 International Centre for Advocacy On Right to Health, Abuja, Nigeria 6 Partners for Health and Development in Africa, Nairobi, Kenya 7 Centre for the Development of People, Lilongwe, Malawi 8 Centre for Population Health Initiatives, Lagos, Nigeria 9 Global Pediatrics Program and Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN USA 10 Institute On Digital Health and Innovation, College of Nursing, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL USA ✉ Corresponding author. Received 2025 Oct 14; Accepted 2026 Feb 23; Collection date 2026. © This is a U.S. Government work and not under copyright protection in the US; foreign copyright protection may apply 2026 Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ . PMC Copyright notice PMCID: PMC13088828 PMID: 41808215 Abstract Clinical trials involving sexual minority adolescents and young men in low- and middle-income countries have historically been limited due to a combination of structural, social, and scientific barriers that often hinder their participation. In addition, researchers lack the cultural competence or knowledge of inclusive recruitment strategies to effectively engage these populations. In this commentary, we describe the experiences, challenges, and opportunities in establishing youth advisory boards as a pathway to entry into the community, overcoming exclusion, building trust, and incorporating the voices of under-served sexual minority adolescents and young men in clinical trials and the development of community-informed interventions. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06350682 . Registered on February 10, 2026. Keywords: Youth advisory boards, Adolescents, Young adults, Young sexual minority men, Experiences, Challenges, Opportunities, Clinical trials, Sub-Saharan Africa Background In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where same-sex sexual behaviors are often criminalized [ 1 ], sexual minority adolescents and young adults (SM-AYA) face higher risk factors but have less access to services. In particular, young (ages 15–24 years) men who have sex with other men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) are disproportionately burdened with higher prevalence and incidence of HIV [ 2 – 5 ], depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation [ 6 ] compared to their cisgender and heterosexual counterparts. Yet, SM-AYA who are most in need of innovative, evidence-based HIV biomedical and behavioral interventions remain poorly engaged or represented in clinical trials, the findings of which could benefit them [ 7 , 8 ]. Consequently, clinical trials involving these sub-populations have historically been limited largely due to a combination of structural, and social, barriers. Stigma, discrimination, violence and hostility often discourage participation in research [ 9 ], and researchers may also lack the cultural competence or the knowledge of inclusive recruitment strategies to effectively engage them [ 1 , 3 ]. Another challenge in engaging SM-AYA in clinical trials, specifically those under the age of 18, is the regulatory requirement for parental or guardian consent [ 8 ]. This exclusionary requirement poses a hindrance, particularly for SM-AYA who are hesitant to disclose their sexual and gender identities to their families due to fear of rejection [ 10 ]. Additionally, the concept of “emancipated or mature minors”, which allows adolescent girls (especially those who are pregnant) to be deemed sufficiently mature to consent independently for clinical trial participation, is not widely recognized or uniformly applied across SSA for adolescent males. These multi-faceted barriers have contributed to gaps in knowledge on how to effectively reach and deliver evidence-based interventions tailored to the unique needs and context of SM-AYA. Meaningful engagement of SM-AYA in the lifecycle of clinical trials from co-design and co-production to dissemination aimed at developing effective, culturally tailored, evidence-based, community-informed interventions can be achieved through the establishment of community advisory committees [ 11 – 13 ]. Youth Advisory Boards (YABs) are community advisory committees that allow meaningful involvement of youth in the design and implementation of youth research projects. YABs provide a pathway for overcoming exclusion, building trust, and incorporating the voices of SM-AYA in clinical trials to improve HIV treatment and prevention outcomes [ 14 – 16 ]. However, the literature is sparse on tested theoretical frameworks for establishing and maintaining YABs [ 14 , 17 ]. Youth engagement aligns with the 1989 United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child [ 18 ], not only as a fundamental right to be involved in matters concerning them, but it is also a requirement to achieve the health-related Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 [ 19 – 21 ]. This paper describes the experiences, challenges, opportunities and lessons learned in establishing YABs for the Resilient HIV Implementation Science with Young Men Using Evidence (RISE) Clinical Research study, designed to improve HIV prevention and treatment through the use of youth-tailored mobile health application, HealthMpowerment [ 22 – 26 ], across four countries – Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, and Zambia based on UNICEF’s guidelines on adolescent participation and civic engagement [ 27 ]. RISE is a five-year clinical trial (2023 – 2029). Participant enrollment is scheduled for early 2026 having completed multiple pre-trial milestones (Fig. 1 ). Fig. 1. Open in a new tab RISE study timelines Lessons learned in establishing the RISE YABs across four countries will benefit other researchers to promote youth inclusion and empowerment, build credibility, and trust with youths, and develop the next generation of youth leaders and advocates in health services and research. YAB member selection, recruitment, and roles To promote community buy-in and foster a strong sense of ownership among adolescents and youth stakeholders, the intended users of the RISE app, all study sites recruited SM-AYA to serve as members of the YAB in each country. These boards are involved throughout the study duration to ensure the priorities and interests of SM-AYA are reflected in the design, implementation, and evaluation of the project. All YAB members were recommended by their peers based on their level of influence, trustworthiness, acceptance within their networks, willingness and confidence in their abilities to represent the interests of their communities. Recruitment to join the YAB was based on their level of involvement as peer leaders in their communities and study sites. In addition, potential YAB members had to meet the following criteria to be recruited: (i) be between the ages of 15 and 24 years (16 and 24 years in Zambia in accordance with national regulations); (ii) reside in the community; (iii) identify as MSM or TGW; and, (iv) report living with HIV or at a high likelihood of exposure to HIV. Members were provided with detailed information about the RISE study, their responsibilities, potential risks and benefits of participation, and safeguard measures. YAB members who reach the age of 25 during the study are asked to step down and are replaced, ensuring the YAB remains representative of the community from which study participants are recruited. The RISE study’s longstanding collaboration with trusted community-based groups, clinics, and SM-AYA–friendly safe spaces has facilitated identification and recruitment of YAB members. Other positive factors include involving community gatekeepers at the outset with detailed information about the study’s goals, YAB expectations, promises of privacy, and outlining the benefits for YAB members. YAB member roles include acting as liaisons between SM-AYA communities and the RISE study team. Besides being involved in the study planning, implementation, and dissemination of results, YAB members are actively engaged in demand creation for the RISE mobile app, providing inputs on strategies for recruiting, retaining, and re-engaging SM-AYA study participants. Furthermore, YAB meetings are intentionally structured to promote inclusive participation, facilitated discussions, small-group activities, and creativity in identifying multiple avenues for contribution (e.g., written feedback, virtual engagement), ensuring that the less outspoken members are encouraged to meaningfully participate. YAB structure Across each participating country, a YAB chairman and co-chairman were nominated by peer members to preside over quarterly and any additional YAB meetings, liaise with RISE leadership, and represent their country’s YAB in biannual RISE multi-country YAB meetings (Fig. 2 ). Fig. 2. Open in a new tab YAB governance, structure, and roles While physical meeting attendance is scheduled at least once per year, most meetings take place virtually or in a hybrid style where members who live closer together converge at safe spaces or clinics and join the rest of the group virtually. In addition, to the roles listed in Fig. 2 , YAB members also perform the following functions – represent their peers’ interests in all community activities; actively engage in the planning, implementation and dissemination of the study’s findings; advise the study as it relates to inclusion of community voices in the implementation of their project and actively engage in quarterly virtual and/or physical YAB meetings. To properly guide their operations, these roles were defined in the YAB standard operating procedure and terms of reference. Member characteristics Each country established a YAB with five to nine members (30 in total). The YABs include diverse community representatives, comprising 17 MSM (56.7%) and 13 TGW (43.3%). Thirty-seven percent of the YAB members were 19 years and below, and a third (33.3%) were living with HIV. While a similar proportion of YAB members were employed (30.0%) or students (30.0%), the remaining participants were unemployed (40.0%). YAB engagement Since the inception of the RISE study, YAB members actively participated in adapting and testing the RISE app. During this phase, they identified app technical issues, and recommended improvements, such as educational games, medication reminder notifications, and a comprehensive drug list beyond the HIV medications listed on the app. Furthermore, they ensured that the app’s contents and language were culturally sensitive and appropriate for the study. YAB members will also be involved in recruiting study participants and in community-led monitoring throughout the study. Challenges Since YAB members in the RISE study are either students, in paid full-time employment or employed as volunteers, most of them encounter challenges in maintaining regular attendance at RISE meetings due to competing life priorities. To mitigate this challenge, meeting scheduling is collaboratively planned between the RISE team and YAB members. Additionally, some YAB members have concerns that their contributions may be undervalued, given their limited experience in formal clinical trial training, however, all RISE YAB meetings and processes explicitly uphold the philosophy that no contribution is meaningless. The extent of YAB engagement differed across countries because of differences in regulatory policies, environments and institutional processes. For instance, whereas the minimum age of consent to participate in HIV research is 15 years in Nigeria,, Kenya and Malawi, it is 16 years in Zambia. Opportunities Involvement in the RISE YAB has yielded several opportunities for its members, evidenced by their continued active participation and the informal feedback reported. Specifically, RISE offers YAB members personal and professional hands-on development opportunities through meetings, workshops, and networking with the study research team. Currently, YAB members develop meeting agendas and lead meetings, they attend presentations and workshops on implementation science, and as the study progresses, they will spearhead community-led monitoring activities for the study. YABs also serve as platforms for advocacy, enabling members to raise awareness about youth-related concerns, including stigma, mental health, and social justice. With each country’s chair and co-chair participating in the RISE multi-country YAB meetings, they are exposed to further opportunities for networking, cross-learning, and professional growth. A YAB chair reported ‘ I now feel more confident speaking in front of people, chairing meetings, taking minutes at meeting, and representing my country .’ Another YAB member reported – ‘ taking part in workshops and discussions about the study has helped board members better understand implementation science concepts, and ethical issues. This makes us feel more legitimate and valuable to the research team .’ As the RISE study progresses, YAB members will be involved in community-led monitoring, advocacy, and dissemination activities by building on skills already acquired to acquire new research and leadership skills. YABs fostering inclusivity The establishment of YABs in the RISE study demonstrates an inclusive strategy for inclusion of SM-AYA voices in clinical trials by engaging SM-AYA as YAB members to work collaboratively with researchers throughout the duration of the study. RISE engagement in four countries across the SSA region underscores the readiness, responsiveness, interest, and commitment of SM-AYA in being involved in research studies that ultimately benefit their communities. However, sustaining youth engagement requires intentional effort and dedicated resources. These include time, energy, and financial support from clinical trial investigators, and service providers, to optimize YAB members’ confidence in contributing to clinical trials with the recognition that their work must be appropriately compensated [ 28 ]. Studies that actively engage youth throughout the research cycle are more likely to produce culturally relevant findings, which in turn enhance individual outcomes, such as professional self-efficacy and agency [ 20 , 28 , 29 ], while also benefiting the broader community, strengthening the clinical trial, and ultimately shaping policy [ 28 , 29 ]. Recommendations for establishing future YABs Our experience in establishing YABs has yielded important recommendations that reflect the lived experiences, needs, and insights of marginalized and under-served populations in African countries. First, periodic training focused on clinical trial methodologies, data analyses, decision-making processes, career growth, and personal development are needed to build the technical capacity of YAB members and improve their ability to meaningfully contribute to clinical trials and enhance their confidence and professional skills. The involvement of YAB members in clinical trials, such as in recruitment, data collection, and demand creation through community outreach, will foster a sense of ownership and contribute to them gaining hands-on experience [ 30 ]. Mandoh et al., in their 12-month evaluation study, found that adolescents’ participation in a youth advisory group led to increased built capacity, increased involvement in chronic disease prevention research, and improvements in indicators of adolescents’ leadership and life skills development [ 20 ]. Second, to further motivate, legitimize and keep YAB members engaged and productive in clinical trials, other non-monetary incentives, such as public acknowledgments, awards, offers of letters of support, certificates and co-authorship in study manuscripts should be considered to recognize YAB members for their time and contributions [ 31 ]. Third, involving YAB members in community-led monitoring activities will enhance equity, service quality, and accessibility by providing their unique perspectives on service delivery challenges leading to more tailored interventions that meet the needs of SM-AYA, promote human rights, and strengthen the overall health program effectiveness [ 32 , 33 ]. Fourth, creating long-term engagement pathways, such as establishing YAB alumni networks and mentorship programs, will provide ongoing opportunities for former YAB members who step down from their study roles to remain engaged and share their experiences. These networks will serve as platforms for knowledge-sharing, mentorship for new members, and continued community advocacy, thereby ensuring sustained impacts beyond the life of the study. Specifically, before joining the board, new recruited members can be strategically paired with alumni for a couple of weeks for smoother onboarding, sharing experiences, transferring knowledge to boost their confidence, and ease their engagement, integration and transition into their new roles. Fifth, similar to Mandoh et al.’s evaluation of the effects of youth advisory group participation on adolescent’s leadership skills in Australia [ 20 ], there is a need to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of YABs on members’ knowledge, leadership skills, and membership retention. Finally, future studies should explore how adolescents and youth engagement through YAB formation translates in professional and personal development. Conclusion As future research studies adopt a similar approach, encouraging a supportive, inclusive and equitable clinical trial environment and addressing existing challenges will be crucial in successfully engaging SM-AYA in relevant health interventions. Acknowledgements We acknowledge the immense contributions of the YAB members, study participants, policymakers and community stakeholders and the entire RISE study research team for their time and collaborative support for this project. Authors’ contribution MC conceived the idea, while SA, TL, MCL, ES, NSM led the write-up of the manuscript. SA, TA, MCL, AE, CM, NSA, NN, BN, PDC, RG, OA, OGA, KS, GN, MCN, JC, ES, GT, JK, CWC, NASA, LHW, MC contributed ideas to the manuscript, reviewed and approved the final version. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. Funding The research reported in this publication was supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development under grant number 1UG1HD113162. None of the funders had a specific role in the conceptualization, design, data collection, analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Data availability All datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on request. Declarations Ethics approval and consent to participate This study was reviewed and approved by the National Health Research Ethics Committee of Nigeria (NHREC/01/01/2007), Amref Ethics and Scientific Review Committee of Kenya (ESRC P1659/2024), the National Health Research Committee, Malawi (4452), the University of Zambia Biomedical Research Ethics Committee (5011–2024); and the University of Maryland Baltimore IRB [HP-00107323]. All participants gave their written informed consent to participate in this research project. Consent for publication Written informed consent for publication of participant details was obtained from the study participants. Competing interests The authors have no competing interests to declare. Footnotes Publisher’s Note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. References 1. Kalu N, Ross MW, Taegtmeyer M, Lamontagne E, Howell S, Neuman M. Association of same-sex criminalisation laws and national HIV policies with HIV testing in African MSM: an ecological single-level and multilevel cross-sectional study of sub-Saharan African countries. Sex Transm Infect. 2024;100(3):150–7. [ DOI ] [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 2. Beyrer C, Baral SD, van Griensven F, Goodreau SM, Chariyalertsak S, Wirtz AL, et al. Global epidemiology of HIV infection in men who have sex with men. Lancet. 2012;380(9839):367–77. [ DOI ] [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 3. Dada D, Abu-Ba’are GR, Turner D, Mashoud IW, Owusu-Dampare F, Apreku A, et al. Scoping review of HIV-related intersectional stigma among sexual and gender minorities in sub-Saharan Africa. BMJ Open. 2024;14(2):e078794. [ DOI ] [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 4. Hessou PHS, Glele-Ahanhanzo Y, Adekpedjou R, Ahouada C, Johnson RC, Boko M, et al. Comparison of the prevalence rates of HIV infection between men who have sex with men (MSM) and men in the general population in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Public Health. 2019;19(1):1634. [ DOI ] [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 5. Baral SD, Grosso A, Holland C, Papworth E. The epidemiology of HIV among men who have sex with men in countries with generalized HIV epidemics. Curr Opin HIV AIDS. 2014;9(2):156–67. [ DOI ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 6. Liles SM, Olsavsky AL, Chen D, Grannis C, Hoskinson KR, Leibowitz SF, et al. Depression and anxiety in transgender and non-binary adolescents: prevalence and associations between adolescent and caregiver reports. Eur J Pediatr. 2024;183(11):4711–9. [ DOI ] [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 7. Frances C, Garnsey C, DeMulder J. Neglected gaps in improving the health, wellbeing, and care for sexual and gender minority young people living in low- and lower-middle-income countries: a scoping review. BMC Public Health. 2023;23(1):1664. [ DOI ] [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 8. Geffen SR, Wang T, Cahill S, Fontenot HB, Conron K, Wilson JM, et al. Recruiting, facilitating, and retaining a youth community advisory board to inform an HIV prevention research project with sexual and gender minority youth. LGBT Health. 2023;10(2):93–8. [ DOI ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 9. Suen LW, Lunn MR, Katuzny K, Finn S, Duncan L, Sevelius J, et al. What sexual and gender minority people want researchers to know about sexual orientation and gender identity questions: a qualitative study. Arch Sex Behav. 2020;49(7):2301–18. [ DOI ] [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 10. Ryan C, Huebner D, Diaz RM, Sanchez J. Family rejection as a predictor of negative health outcomes in white and Latino lesbian, gay, and bisexual young adults. Pediatrics. 2009;123(1):346–52. [ DOI ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 11. Havlicek J, Curry A, Villalpando F. Youth participation in foster youth advisory boards: perspectives of facilitators. Child Youth Serv Rev. 2018;84:255–70. [ Google Scholar ] 12. Angel L, Lee I, Valdovinos E, Uy-Smith E. 215. Fostering leadership in transitional youth: the making of an adolescent patient advisory board. J Adolesc Health. 2015;56(2):S110. [ Google Scholar ] 13. Ogunsanya ME, Kaninjing E, Morton DJ, Dwyer K, Young ME, Odedina FT. Bridging the gap: a community advisory board promoting community engagement in cancer research for ethnically diverse populations. Am J Mens Health. 2024;18(5):15579883241280826. [ DOI ] [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 14. Moreno MA, Jolliff A, Kerr B. Youth advisory boards: perspectives and processes. J Adolesc Health. 2021;69(2):192–4. [ DOI ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 15. Head BW. Why not ask them? Mapping and promoting youth participation. Child Youth Serv Rev. 2011;33(4):541–7. [ Google Scholar ] 16. Abraham O, Rosenberger CA, Poku VO. Implementing a youth advisory board to inform adolescent health and medication safety research. Res Social Adm Pharm. 2023;19(4):681–5. [ DOI ] [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 17. Hohenemser LK, Marshall BD. Utilizing a youth development framework to establish and maintain a youth advisory committee. Health Promot Pract. 2002;3(2):155–65. [ Google Scholar ] 18. UN. Convention on the Rights of the Child. 1989. 19. UN. Transforming our world: the 2030 agenda for sustainable development goals. Geneva, Switzerland: United Nations; 2015. [ Google Scholar ] 20. Mandoh M, Raeside R, Todd A, Redfern J, Mihrshahi S, Cheng HL, et al. Evaluating the effect of a 12-month youth advisory group on adolescent’s leadership skills and perceptions related to chronic disease prevention research: a mixed-methods study. BMC Public Health. 2023;23(1):2344. [ DOI ] [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 21. Patel V, Saxena S, Lund C, Thornicroft G, Baingana F, Bolton P, et al. The Lancet Commission on global mental health and sustainable development. Lancet. 2018;392(10157):1553–98. [ DOI ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 22. Hightow-Weidman LB, Fowler B, Kibe J, McCoy R, Pike E, Calabria M, et al. HealthMpowerment.org: development of a theory-based HIV/STI website for young black MSM. AIDS Educ Prev. 2011;23(1):1–12. [ DOI ] [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] 23. Hightow-Weidman LB, LeGrand S, Muessig KE, Simmons RA, Soni K, Choi SK, et al. A randomized trial of an online risk reduction intervention for young black MSM. AIDS Behav. 2019;23(5):1166–77. [ DOI ] [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 24. Hightow-Weidman LB, Muessig KE, Pike EC, LeGrand S, Baltierra N, Rucker AJ, et al. HealthMpowerment.org: building community through a mobile-optimized, online health promotion intervention. Health Educ Behav. 2015;42(4):493–9. [ DOI ] [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] 25. Hightow-Weidman LB, Pike E, Fowler B, Matthews DM, Kibe J, McCoy R, et al. HealthMpowerment.org: feasibility and acceptability of delivering an internet intervention to young Black men who have sex with men. AIDS Care. 2012;24(7):910–20. [ DOI ] [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 26. Muessig KE, Baltierra NB, Pike EC, LeGrand S, Hightow-Weidman LB. Achieving HIV risk reduction through HealthMpowerment.org, a user-driven eHealth intervention for young Black men who have sex with men and transgender women who have sex with men. Digit Cult Educ. 2014;6(3):164–82. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 27. UNICEF. Engaged and heard! Guidelines on adolescent participation and civic engagement. New York: UNICEF; 2020. [ Google Scholar ] 28. Canas E, Wathen N, Berman H, Reaume-Zimmer P, Iyer SN. Our roles are not at ease: the work of engaging a youth advisory council in a mental health services delivery organization. Health Expect. 2021;24(5):1618–25. [ DOI ] [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 29. Chow DWS, Goi A, Salm MF, Kupewa J, Mollel G, Mninda Y, et al. Through the looking glass: empowering youth community advisory boards in Tanzania as a sustainable youth engagement model to inform policy and practice. Front Public Health. 2024;12:1348242. [ DOI ] [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 30. Bailey K, Allemang B, Vandermorris A, Munce S, Cleverley K, Chisholm C, et al. Benefits, barriers and recommendations for youth engagement in health research: combining evidence-based and youth perspectives. Res Involv Engagem. 2024;10(1):92. [ DOI ] [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 31. Hawke LD, Relihan J, Miller J, McCann E, Rong J, Darnay K, et al. Engaging youth in research planning, design and execution: practical recommendations for researchers. Health Expect. 2018;21(6):944–9. [ DOI ] [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 32. Phiri MM, Schaap A, Hensen B, Sigande L, Simuyaba M, Mwenge L, et al. The impact of an innovative community-based peer-led intervention on uptake and coverage of sexual and reproductive health services among adolescents and young people 15–24 years old: results from the Yathu Yathu cluster randomised trial. BMC Public Health. 2024;24(1):1424. [ DOI ] [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 33. Hensen B, Floyd S, Phiri MM, Schaap A, Sigande L, Simuyaba M, et al. The impact of community-based, peer-led sexual and reproductive health services on knowledge of HIV status among adolescents and young people aged 15 to 24 in Lusaka, Zambia: the Yathu Yathu cluster-randomised trial. PLoS Med. 2023;20(4):e1004203. [ DOI ] [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] Associated Data This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article. Data Availability Statement All datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on request. Articles from Trials are provided here courtesy of BMC ACTIONS View on publisher site PDF (995.9 KB) Cite Collections Permalink PERMALINK Copy RESOURCES Similar articles Cited by other articles Links to NCBI Databases Cite Copy Download .nbib .nbib Format: AMA APA MLA NLM Add to Collections Create a new collection Add to an existing collection Name your collection * Choose a collection Unable to load your collection due to an error Please try again Add Cancel Follow NCBI NCBI on X (formerly known as Twitter) NCBI on Facebook NCBI on LinkedIn NCBI on GitHub NCBI RSS feed Connect with NLM NLM on X (formerly known as Twitter) NLM on Facebook NLM on YouTube National Library of Medicine 8600 Rockville Pike Bethesda, MD 20894 Web Policies FOIA HHS Vulnerability Disclosure Help Accessibility Careers NLM NIH HHS USA.gov Back to Top