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Community Collaboration Addressing Transactional Sex and HIV Prevention Among Substance Using Women

McCuistian, Caravella
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1561995981627949

Abstract Details

2019, PhD, University of Cincinnati, Arts and Sciences: Psychology.
One in 23 substance using women are likely to become HIV-positive within their lifetime at the current transmission rates (CDC, 2017). Transactional sex is one behavior that could be attributed to the increased HIV rate among this population. Transactional sex is often associated with increased sexual risk behaviors and higher rates of HIV. Despite the HIV risk associated with transactional sex, few studies target transactional sex for HIV prevention. Utilizing a Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) approach, the current study aims to reduce this gap. The current study occurred in two phases. The first phase aimed to collaborate with the target population by forming a community/academic partnership to develop an intervention aimed at reducing HIV risk associated with transactional sex. The second phase of the study aimed to test the effectiveness of the intervention in comparison to a control. It was hypothesized that individuals receiving the intervention would report higher intention to engage in future behaviors associated with decreased HIV risk than controls. During Phase I, the community/academic partnership was comprised of five women with a history of substance use and transactional sex as well as three academic research members. Through a series of four meetings the group defined transactional sex, identified three areas associated with decreasing HIV risk (i.e., effective communication, self-esteem, and economic independence), and collaboratively developed the intervention. Participants in Phase II were a group of 65 women who were enrolled in substance use treatment and reported a history of transactional sex. All eligible participants provided informed consent and were assigned to either the control group (n = 26) or the intervention group (n = 39). Descriptive information was collected at baseline. Participants also completed a modified version of the Intent to Engage Safer Sex and the Expectation to Engage in Safer Sex subscales of the Sexual Risk Scale. In addition, participants were asked to answer questions generated by the community/academic partnership relating to intention to engage in effective communication, improve self-esteem, and increase economic independence in the future. During Phase I, the community/academic partnership collaboratively defined transactional sex and developed the intervention. During Phase II, results paired samples t-tests revealed that individuals in both study arms had significant improvements from pre to post on all five dependent variables. However, independent samples t-tests revealed no significant difference in change scores between the study arms. Results from the multivariate general linear model including all five dependent variables together were also non-significant for differences in study arm, F (5, 56) = .61, p = .69; Wilk’s Lambda = .95. By relying upon the community/academic partnership, the current study developed a new definition of transactional sex that could prove useful for future research. Results from Phase II indicated that the community/academic partnership developed an intervention that was just as effective as the treatment as usual control. The current study also highlights clinical implications in HIV prevention for substance using women.
Bridgette Peteet, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Ann Kathleen Hoard Burlew, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Farrah Jacquez, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Carolette Norwood, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
55 p.
Psychology
HIV Prevention; Substance Use; Health Disparities; Community-Based Participatory Research

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • McCuistian, C. (2019). Community Collaboration Addressing Transactional Sex and HIV Prevention Among Substance Using Women [Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1561995981627949

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • McCuistian, Caravella. Community Collaboration Addressing Transactional Sex and HIV Prevention Among Substance Using Women. 2019. University of Cincinnati, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1561995981627949.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • McCuistian, Caravella. "Community Collaboration Addressing Transactional Sex and HIV Prevention Among Substance Using Women." Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1561995981627949

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1561995981627949
105
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This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.