PUBLICATION HIGHTLIGHTS

Sybil Hosek, PhD, and colleagues recently published an article in the Journal of International AIDS Society on the results of MTN-034, “Reversing the Epidemic in Africa with Choices in HIV Prevention” (REACH) trial. To address low PrEP uptake and persistence among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in sub-Saharan Africa, MTN-034/REACH offered AGYW a menu of adherence support strategies in a crossover trial implemented in South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe from January 2019 [...]

Kate Merrill, PhD, and colleagues published a paper in PLOS Global Public Health, "The association between violence victimization and subsequent unplanned pregnancy among adolescent girls in Uganda: Do primary schools make a difference?" They analyzed data from the Contexts of Violence in Adolescence Cohort (CoVAC) study in Luwero District, Uganda to see if there are contextual factors that modify the association beteen violence victimization and unplanned pregnancy. Data from 42 [...]

Drs. Julie Bobitt and Shannon Jarrott guest edited a special issue of The Gerontologist focused on Implementation Science (IS) in aging research. This issue offers a collection of articles addressing the application of IS to plan, evaluate, tailor, scale up, and sustain interventions in gerontology. Articles address frameworks, theories, and models, integrating technology methods, mitigating barriers to care for Veterans, the Dementia Education Game, preventing falls, mandated caregiver training to improve [...]

CDIS Faculty Affiliates, Drs. Natasha Crooks and Randi Singer, and CDIS Director, Dr. Geri Donenberg published an article in the journal Archives of Sexual Behavior on "The Role of the Strong Black Woman in Black Female Sexual Development." The paper explores the disproportionate impact of sexual health disparities on black girls and women and utilizes the Becoming a Sexual Black Woman (SBW) framework. Using a secondary thematic data analysis of Black [...]

Kate Merrill, PhD and colleagues published preliminary outcomes from the IMARA South Africa pilot. The authors examined the preliminary effectiveness and implementation outcomes of Informed, Motivated, Aware, and Responsible Adolescents and Adults—South Africa (IMARA-SA), an evidence-based intervention for South African AGYW (15–19 years) and their female caregivers.  Primary outcomes were HIV Testing and Counselling (HTC) uptake, STI incidence (gonorrhea, chlamydia), and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake. Secondary outcomes were self-reported sexual risk behavior (condom use at last sex, [...]

Julie Bobitt, PhD and colleagues explored the use of cannabis among older Veterans. Their results showed older Veterans are using medical cannabis as a means of harm reduction as an adjunct or substitute for other medications and substances with limited guidance from their healthcare providers. Veterans also reported that there exists an inconsistency across the Veterans Health Administration system regarding the interpretation and application of cannabis policies. Drawing from these [...]