Evaluating a Community-Based Participatory Video Intervention for Adolescent Sexual Health Knowledge: A Methodological Framework for In-School Youth in Harare's High-Density Suburbs

Adolescents in high-density urban settings face significant sexual and reproductive health challenges. Conventional didactic health education frequently fails to engage this demographic, highlighting a need for innovative, participatory methods. This methodology article details a framework for evaluating a community-based participatory video (CBPV) intervention aimed at improving sexual health knowledge among in-school adolescents. The primary objective is to present a robust mixed-methods protocol for assessing the intervention’s feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness. The design is a concurrent mixed-methods, quasi-experimental study. In-school youth aged 15-19 will be recruited from selected schools in Harare’s high-density suburbs. The intervention group will participate in workshops to create short films on sexual health topics. Quantitative pre- and post-intervention surveys will measure changes in knowledge scores. Qualitative data from focus group discussions and participatory observation will explore experiential learning and community perceptions. The design incorporates rigorous ethical safeguards for working with minors. As a methodology paper, it presents a framework rather than empirical results. The protocol is designed to detect a hypothesised minimum 20% improvement in composite knowledge scores in the intervention group versus a control. The qualitative component is structured to identify themes around agency, stigma, and knowledge translation. This methodological framework offers a structured, culturally contextualised approach to rigorously evaluate a participatory visual intervention for adolescent sexual health. It addresses gaps in evaluation design for community-based participatory research in similar resource-constrained, urban settings. Researchers using this framework should prioritise extensive community stakeholder engagement before implementation. Sufficient time for trust-building and adaptation of materials to the specific linguistic and cultural context is crucial. Future applications should consider longitudinal follow-up to assess knowledge retention. Adolescent sexual health, participatory video, community-based participatory research, mixed-methods evaluation, methodology, in-school youth, high-density suburbs. This article contributes a detailed methodological protocol for evaluating participatory visual methods in public health, designed to strengthen the rigour of community-based intervention research in African urban settings.