Current Research Projects | Social Team Research in Promoting Health Equity

Our team has a number of ongoing research projects that focus on identifying and addressing health risk behaviors and health disparities among marginalized populations with the goal of improving population health and well-being.

Quantitative Study of Health and Health Behaviors Among Latina Young Adult College Students

This study investigated how cultural factors (acculturation, ethnic identity, traditional gender role beliefs) influence health risk behaviors (alcohol use, drug use, inconsistent condom use) and sexual health outcomes (sexually transmitted infections) among Latina young adult women college students. We also examined how factors like experiences of perceived discrimination and sexism might exacerbate engagement in health risk behaviors. Findings will illuminate associations between cultural factors, engagement in health risk behaviors, and sexual health among Latina college students that can inform health promotion interventions.

Qualitative Study of Culturally Adapted HIV Prevention with Latinx Adults Who Use Substances

Due to social and structural inequities, disparities have been documented for Latinx individuals at every stage of the sexual health care continuum and include reduced condom use, reduced likelihood to be tested for STIs/HIV and know their HIV serostatus, higher rates of STIs and HIV, and lower pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake and adherence. Additionally, substance-involved individuals often face unique individual (e.g., stigma, stressors, mental health problems, medical mistrust) and contextual/systems-level challenges (e.g., socioeconomic disadvantage, housing instability) that greatly impact access, uptake, and adherence to HIV preventive care (i.e., PrEP). Because prevention efforts have not consistently reached substance-involved Latinx adults, there is an urgent need for culturally responsive sexual health promotion efforts that use multilevel approaches to increase demand and promote uptake of PrEP. Guided by implementation science and health equity promotion frameworks, we conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with substance-involved Latinx adults to explore prospects and possibilities for implementing PrEP and sexual health services. Aims included to: (1) assess barriers to and facilitators of sexual health and preventive (including PrEP) behaviors; (2) identify cultural factors and syndemic influences involved in sexual decision-making to support the development of culturally responsive approaches; and (3) explore perceptions of best fit messaging, practices, settings, champions, and other essential elements for delivering PrEP and sexual health services with substance-involved Latinx adults. Results will inform our understanding of sexual health promotion in Latinx adults who use substances and aid the development of culturally responsive, affirmative strategies for implementing PrEP and sexual health services.

Mixed Methods Implementation Survey of Adults Who Use Substances Living in the Southeastern U.S.

This study is a collaboration with researchers at University of Washington and New York State Psychiatric Institute that comprises a cross-sectional, multilevel, mixed methods implementation study that aimed to identify strategies and conditions for widespread implementation of PrEP and opioid use-related service for individuals who use substances and receive services from community programs (i.e., STI clinics; community-based harm reduction/syringe services programs; substance use treatment programs) in high HIV incidence Southeastern U.S. cities. We also investigated psychosocial factors (behavioral and mental health, substance use, and sexual behavior) in relation to risk and protective factors associated with substance use and STI/HIV risk outcomes. Results seek to characterize awareness, experience, willingness and intention, barriers and facilitators, and strategies for implementing and linking to PrEP and medication-assisted treatment (MAT), overdose prevention, and other opioid use-related services. This study provides a unique opportunity to examine racial and ethnic disparities in substance use, mental health, and sexual risk behavior among an understudied population living in Southeastern cities with high HIV incidence.