The Empowerment Of Women - A Key To Hiv Prevention
adolescents; aids prevention; black; Environmental & Occupational Health; infection; intervention; Psychology; Public; risk reduction; Social Work; united-states
We discuss the process underlying the success of an HIV-prevention project for young, inner-city women. The intervention was based on the concepts of empowerment and culturally sensitive skill building. Four critical points relevant to the translation of HIV prevention knowledge into behavioral change among the sample are examined: (1) integrating the important issues of the participants' lives into the HIV prevention program, (2) utilizing a group format to encourage cohesiveness and support, (3) engaging group facilitators to promote mutuality and equality, and (4) promoting ongoing, authentic relationships among the participants and staff members. Points are illustrated with vignettes reconstructed from the group facilitators' experiences with the participants.
Levine O H; Britton P J; James T C; Jackson A P; Hobfoll S E; Lavin J P
Journal of Community Psychology
1993
1993-10
Journal Article or Conference Abstract Publication
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1002/1520-6629(199310)21:4%3C320::aid-jcop2290210408%3E3.0.co;2-6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1002/1520-6629(199310)21:4%3C320::aid-jcop2290210408%3E3.0.co;2-6</a>
Effects And Generalizability Of Communally Oriented Hiv-aids Prevention Versus General Health Promotion Groups For Single, Inner-city Women In Urban Clinics
adolescents; african-american women; behavior; impact; infection; outcomes; Psychology; randomized controlled trial; risk-reduction interventions; sexual risk; united-states
A primary prevention, behavioral intervention designed to reduce HIV risk behavior was tested in a randomized, controlled trial with single, inner-city women. A total of 935 women were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 conditions: a small group, 6-session communally oriented HIV prevention intervention; a yoked general health promotion intervention control; or a standard care control. Both interventions involved the interactive use of videotapes by live group leaders. The HIV prevention intervention, in particular, resulted in significant positive effects on self-reported and behaviorally assessed safer-sex behavior. Women in the HIV prevention group showed reduced point prevalences of medically tested sexually transmitted diseases at follow-up in comparisons.
Hobfoll S E; Jackson A P; Lavin J; Johnson R J; Schroder K E E
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
2002
2002-08
Journal Article or Conference Abstract Publication
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1037//0022-006x.70.4.950" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1037//0022-006x.70.4.950</a>
Womens Barriers To Safer Sex
adolescents; aids risk; Environmental & Occupational Health; hiv infection; intervention; Psychology; Public; risk reduction; social support; stress
We examined women's barriers to safer sex and the development of a 14-item, multi-dimensional, barriers to safer sex scale. In Study 1, model testing and scale development was conducted on a population of 503 African and European American, inner-city, pregnant, single women. We found four factors that closely parallel theoretical barriers that are cited in the literature: a) partner and self objections, b) the appraisal that one is not at risk, c) embarrassment, and d) giving up pleasure. In Study 2, convergent and divergent validity data supported the construct validity of the theoretical model and scale. In Study 3, the four subscales were found to be reliable among an additional sample of 72 single, college women. Subscale means for the community and student samples differed significantly, indicating important population differences. More modest differences were found between African American and European American women.
Hobfoll S E; Jackson A P; Lavin J; Britton P J; Shepherd J B
Psychology & Health
1994
1994
Journal Article or Conference Abstract Publication
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1080/08870449408407483" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1080/08870449408407483</a>
Safer Sex Knowledge, Behavior, And Attitudes Of Inner-city Women
african american; aids; aids risk; black; hiv; inner city; Psychology; risk reduction; safer sex; united-states; women
Sexual behavior, knowledge of HIV transmission and prevention, perceived risk of AIDS, and safer sex behavior were studied in a sample of 289 single, pregnant. inner-city women. African-American and European-American women were equally represented. Women had poor AIDS knowledge. Sexual behavior placed women at risk for HIV infection due to the lack of condom or spermicide use. Women did not perceive themselves at risk for the AIDS virus, although they did recognize that heterosexuals were at risk. Their lack of risk perception was partly based on their having a single sexual partner. They did not regard their partner's current or past behavior as placing them at risk. Recommendations for intervention and cultural differences were discussed.
Hobfoll S E; Jackson A P; Lavin J; Britton P J; Shepherd J B
Health Psychology
1993
1993-11
Journal Article or Conference Abstract Publication
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1037/0278-6133.12.6.481" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1037/0278-6133.12.6.481</a>
Reducing Inner-city Womens Aids Risk Activities - A Study Of Single, Pregnant-women
adolescents; african american; aids; black; hiv; inner-city women; intervention; prevention; Psychology; women
Behavioral change reduces risk of HIV infection and development of AIDS. We compared 206 inner-city women who were randomly assigned to a 4-session AIDS-prevention group or to one of two controls, a health-promotion group or a no-intervention group. AIDS-prevention and health-promotion groups provided information, behavioral competency training, and social support. Only the AIDS-prevention group focused on AIDS-specific knowledge and skills. The AIDS-prevention group produced moderate, consistent increases in knowledge and safer sex behaviors in comparison with either the health-promotion or no-intervention group. Self-report and objective changes were sustained 6 months after intervention for both African-American and European-American women.
Hobfoll S E; Jackson A P; Lavin J; Britton P J; Shepherd J B
Health Psychology
1994
1994-09
Journal Article or Conference Abstract Publication
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1037/0278-6133.13.5.397" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1037/0278-6133.13.5.397</a>
Proximal and distal predictors of AIDS risk behaviors among inner-city African American and European American women
AIDS risk; attitudes; condom use; ethnic differences; health behavior; intervention; knowledge; model; perceptions; Psychology; safer sex; self-efficacy; social norms; stress
AIDS risk behavior and attitudes towards safer sex were studied in a sample of 666 African American and 626 European American women. Condom use, AIDS-related knowledge, risk perception, self-efficacy beliefs, attitudes and perceived partner attitudes, and an assertive coping style were analyzed with regard to mean differences and predictive power in both ethnic groups. Compared to European American women, African American women had less knowledge and lower self-efficacy beliefs towards safer sex behavior, but they perceived themselves to be at more risk and reported greater condom use. Further, ethnicity was found to moderate the effects of the psychological predictors on safer sex behavior. This moderator effect was tested using a structural equation modeling design. In both groups, risk perception was the strongest predictor of condom use. Among African American women, social-cognitive barriers (e.g. low self-efficacy beliefs, negative attitude towards condom use) worked as a second predictor and mediator of the effects of risk perception on condom use. In contrast, among European American women, social-cognitive factors had no effect on condom use. In general, prediction of safer sex behavior was stronger among African American women.
Schroder K E E; Hobfoll S E; Jackson A P; Lavin J
Journal of Health Psychology
2001
2001-03
Journal Article
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1177/135910530100600207" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1177/135910530100600207</a>