New Protocol Paper Outlines Family-Based HIV/STI Prevention Program for Black Girls and Male Caregivers
IMAGE study explores a culturally grounded approach to community-based sexual health programming.
Black girls in the U.S. continue to face disproportionately high rates of HIV and STIs. Meanwhile, Black male caregivers are often underutilized in prevention efforts, despite their unique role in shaping family relationships. A newly published protocol paper in PLOS ONE by Dr. Natasha Crooks and collaborators introduces the IMAGE study, a two-arm randomized controlled trial testing the effectiveness of a family-based HIV/STI prevention program targeting these overlooked dynamics.
IMAGE (IMARA for Male Caregivers and Girls Empowerment) adapts a mother-daughter intervention to engage Black male caregivers and their daughters (ages 14–18) in Chicago community settings. The study compares IMAGE to a general health promotion program across six community-based organizations.
Guided by the 3-Step Implementation Model, the study’s second aim is to assess barriers and facilitators to implementation and uptake. Researchers hypothesize that girls in the IMAGE group will report lower STI incidence, fewer sexual partners, and greater condom use over time.
Why it matters: This protocol lays the groundwork for an innovative, culturally grounded, and community-driven strategy to reduce sexual health inequities among Black youth, while empowering male caregivers as protective factors in adolescent health.
