Computer-Based HIV Prevention Interventions for African-American Women

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Women of color, particularly African American women, are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. African American women account for 66% of estimated AIDS cases among women, aged 13 and older, diagnosed in 2005, but onl y 12% of the U.S. population of women. Several behavioral prevention interventions tailored for African American women have shown efficacy in reducing sexual risk behaviors. Their successful replication has been hampered by cost, implementation difficultie s, and participant retention issues. The proposed project seeks to address these barriers to reducing HIV/AIDS rates in African American females by developing and empirically validating computer enhanced, individualized versions of efficacious group-admini stered HIV prevention programs for African-American females. Specific objectives include: (1) to increase service agencies' ability to implement efficacious HIV interventions with fidelity; (2) to increase African American females' participation in efficac ious HIV interventions; and, (3) ultimately, to reduce sexual risk behaviors and HIV infection rates among African-American females. In Phase I we developed a computer enhanced, individualized, multimedia version of SiSTA, a group-administered HIV preventi on program for African- American women that has demonstrated efficacy in reducing sexual risk behavior. We called this computer version SAHARA, for Sistas Accessing HIV/AIDS Resources At-a-click. In Phase I we also successfully validated the effectiveness of SAHARA through a randomized controlled trial. In the proposed Phase II continuation, we will repeat these successful development and validation methods with two additional efficacious group programs for African American females: SiHLE (for adolescents a ge 14-18) and WiLLOW (for women living with HIV age 18 and older). Once again, Digitized SiHLE and Digitized WiLLOW will be developed and evaluated in collaboration with their developers, Drs. Gina Wingood and Ralph DiClemente. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVA NCE The proposed research will make efficacious HIV prevention programs for African American adolescents and women available to health service organizations at low cost, and will facilitate their cost-effective, faithful implementation. It will also promot e community members' participation in the interventions by permitting sensitive topics to be addressed privately (i.e., one-on-one with the computer) and according to a flexible schedule. Ultimately, it will help to reduce sexual risk-taking behavior and H IV infection rates among African American women, who are disproportionately affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.