Adapting an Evidence-Based HIV-Prevention Intervention for Women in Domestic Violence Shelters.

Objective: Despite the documented intersection of intimate partner violence and HIV, there is a paucity of evidence-based HIV prevention interventions for female survivors of intimate partner violence in the United States. This paper describes the adaptation of an effective HIV prevention intervention, Sisters Informing Sisters about Topics on AIDS (SISTA), for women in domestic violence shelters and the steps taken to improve the adapted intervention's implementation.

Method: The adaptation process was guided by the ADAPT-ITT framework and data collected from directors, direct client service providers, and residents of two domestic violence shelters located in urban areas, as well as topical experts.

Delivering a "dose of hope": a faith-based program to increase older african americans' participation in clinical trials.

Background: Underrepresentation of older-age racial and ethnic minorities in clinical research is a significant barrier to health in the United States, as it impedes medical research advancement of effective preventive and therapeutic strategies.

Objective: The objective of the study was to develop and test the feasibility of a community-developed faith-based intervention and evaluate its potential to increase the number of older African Americans in clinical research.

Methods: Using a cluster-randomized design, we worked with six matched churches to enroll at least 210 persons.

Comparative effectiveness of a faith-based HIV intervention for African American women: importance of enhancing religious social capital.

Objectives: We assessed the effectiveness of P4 for Women, a faith-based HIV intervention.

Methods: We used a 2-arm comparative effectiveness trial involving 134 African American women aged 18 to 34 years to compare the effectiveness of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-defined evidence-based Sisters Informing Sisters about Topics on AIDS (SISTA) HIV intervention with P4 for Women, an adapted faith-based version of SISTA. Participants were recruited from a large black church in Atlanta, Georgia, and completed assessments at baseline and follow-up.

Masculinity, condom use self-efficacy and abusive responses to condom negotiation: the case for HIV prevention for heterosexual African-American men.

Background: This study explored the role of masculinity and perceived condom use skills in African-American men's abusive response to female partners' condom requests.

Methods: Eighty African-American men aged 18-29 years completed measures on sexual behaviour, responses to condom requests, condom use self-efficacy and other masculine constructs. Men also were tested for sexually transmissible infections.

Efficacy of SISTA South Africa on sexual behavior and relationship control among isiXhosa women in South Africa: results of a randomized-controlled trial.

Background: The HIV epidemic has a devastating impact among South African women. The current study evaluated the efficacy of SISTA South Africa, a culturally congruent HIV intervention for isiXhosa women in South Africa, which was adapted from SISTA, an HIV intervention for African American women.

Methods: A randomized-controlled trial recruited 342 isiXhosa women aged 18-35 years.

African-American men's exposure to music videos and their sexual attitudes and risk behaviour.

Background: Media is a social determinant of HIV and sexually transmissible infection (STI) risk. However, limited empirical data have examined men's media exposure and their sexual attitudes and behaviour towards women.

Methods: Eighty heterosexual African-American men were assessed on their exposure to music videos, sexual attitudes and behaviour.

The concrete jungle: city stress and substance abuse among young adult African American men.

Substance use is prevalent among African American men living in urban communities. The impact of substance use on the social, psychological, and physical health of African American men has important public health implications for families, communities, and society. Given the adverse consequences of alcohol and drug abuse within communities of color, this study evaluated the relationship between city stress, alcohol consumption, and drug use among African American men.

Interpersonal- and community-level predictors of intimate partner violence perpetration among African American men.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) has been associated with adverse physical, psychoemotional, and sexual health, and African American women are at higher risk for experiencing IPV. Considering African American women predominantly have African American male partners, it is essential to identify factors associated with IPV perpetration among African American men. The present study examined attitudes toward IPV, ineffective couple conflict resolution, exposure to neighborhood violence, and the interplay of these factors as predictors of IPV perpetration.

Gender differences in sexual risk behaviours and sexually transmissible infections among adolescents in mental health treatment.

Background: Adolescents with a history of psychiatric disorder(s) are particularly vulnerable to contracting sexually transmissible infections (STIs) as a result of psychological and emotional states associated with higher rates of risky sexual behaviour. The present study examined gender differences in sexual risk behaviours and STI among adolescents in mental health treatment.

Methods: Three hundred and seventy nine sexually active adolescents, aged 13-18 years, from a larger multisite study, who received mental health treatment during the past year, completed an audio computer-assisted self interview assessing sociodemographics, psychiatric symptomatology and HIV/STI risk behaviours, and provided urine specimens tested for STI.

Design of a faith-based HIV intervention: successful collaboration between a university and a church.

This article describes the development of a gender-specific and culturally tailored, theoretically derived, faith-based HIV intervention created to reduce HIV vulnerability among African American women. This innovative culturally congruent approach to HIV prevention involves one of the most influential social structures in the African American community-the African American church. Using the ADAPT-ITT model, and principles of community-based participatory research, this faith-based HIV intervention was adapted from a CDC-defined evidence-based HIV prevention intervention for young African American women.

Preliminary efficacy of a computer-based HIV intervention for African-American women.

This study evaluated the preliminary efficacy of a computer-based HIV intervention to enhance HIV-protective sexual behaviours, based on a randomised controlled trial among 135 African-American women, 21-29 years of age, seeking services at Planned Parenthood in Atlanta, GA. Participants were randomised either to a control session two, 60-minute computer-based HIV intervention sessions administered on a laptop computer that each concluded with a 15-minute small group session or to a control session of general health information including discussion on HIV prevention. Relative to controls, participants in the computer-based HIV intervention were more knowledgeable about HIV/STD prevention and reported higher scores on the measure of condom use self-efficacy at 3 months post-intervention; they also reported a higher percentage of condom-protected sex and were more likely to use condoms consistently for vaginal sex (odds ratio, OR = 5.

SISTA South Africa: the adaptation of an efficacious HIV prevention trial conducted with African-American women for isiXhosa-speaking South African women.

Although new HIV treatments continue to offer hope for individuals living with HIV, behavioural interventions shown to reduce HIV risk behaviour remain one of the most powerful tools in curbing the HIV epidemic. Unfortunately, the development of evidence based HIV interventions is a resource-intensive process that has not progressed as quickly as the epidemiology of the disease. As the epidemic continues to evolve, there is a need to expedite the development of evidence-based HIV interventions for populations that are often disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS.

The role of spirituality in sustaining the psychological well-being of HIV-positive black women.

Historically, spirituality has been an instrumental component to the survival of Black women. In an era when the HIV epidemic disproportionately compromises their health, it is imperative to explore spirituality's role in sustaining the psychological health of Black women living with HIV. This study examined the relationship between spirituality and self-reported depression among Black women living with HIV.