Research

Lucy Marion, PhD, RN, CS, FAAN, Funded Projects

STD Prevention for At-Risk African American Women

Funding Source: National Institute of Nursing Research

Dates: 9/30/99 – 6/30/06

Project Manager: Lorna Finnegan

Co-Investigators: Marie Talashek, Barbara Dancy, Sally Freels

Abstract: The purpose of the study is to test the effectiveness of a 12-month intervention to prevent STD reinfections among young, low-income African American women living on the Chicago Westside. The Westside has the highest rate of chlamydia in Chicago , and the Chicago rate is 4 times the national rate. The Specific Aim is to determine the effects of the intervention as indicated by mediating outcome measures--social, psychological, and behavioral variables--and outcome STD reinfections. Subjects will be 670 women aged 18-29 who have a confirmed new index STD and at least 1 other STD in her history. These subjects will be recruited from publicly funded Westside clinics, including Cook County Hospital , Chicago Department of Health at Miles Square Center , and Gunnar Clinic. The intervention will be housed in the new Westside Health Center , a Cook County Bureau of Health Services facility. The women will be randomly assigned with the minimization subject distribution procedure, taking into account the history of IV drug use, number of sexual partners, sexual violence, and HIV seropositivity. The intervention group has a 6-week Intensive Phase 1 with standardized individual and group activities and a 10-month Maintenance Phase 2 with a standardized component plus a negotiated plan. The intervention is directed by advanced practice nurses and complemented by a social worker within a primary care setting. The control group will have usual care, STD urine screening, HIV testing (offered) and a minimal didactic experience until the 12 month measure is taken. Then they will be offered a concentrated intervention. A tested model, the IMCHB will guide the ongoing subject-nurse interactions and the group education sessions during the intervention. Analyses include change scores, logistic regression, proportional odds regression and random regression analysis.