title: Participation in SEPA, a sexual and relational health intervention for Hispanic women.
abstract: HIV and intimate partner violence (IPV) risks are linked in Hispanic women, so integrated interventions can efficiently produce meaningful change. Integrated interventions for Hispanic women are promising, but factors that put Hispanic women at risk for HIV and violence may also impede engagement with interventions. This study examined barriers and facilitators of engagement in a group educational intervention, SEPA (Salud, Educación, Prevención y Autocuidado [Health, Education, Prevention, and Self-Care]), for Hispanic women. A total of 274 Hispanic women from South Florida in the SEPA condition of a randomized controlled trial completed baseline measures of violence, depression, familism, Hispanic stress, acculturation, and demographics, and 57% of the women engaged (attended two of five sessions). Education, IPV, and acculturation predicted engagement. Understanding engagement advances intervention development/refinement. Hispanic women who experience relationship violence are open to group interventions. Further program development and outreach work are needed to connect women with low education, who are particularly vulnerable.
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence for Health Disparities Research, El Centro School ofNursing and Health Studies, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA. vmitrani@miami.edu
authors.forename: Victoria B
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Mitrani
authors.forename: Brian E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: McCabe
authors.forename: Rosa M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Guarda
authors.forename: Aubrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Florom-Smith
authors.forename: Nilda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Peragallo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017579:Domestic Violence; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D060728:Reproductive Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D012747:Sexual Partners
keywords: HIV/AIDS; Latino; acculturation; health behavior/symptom focus; intervention engagement; population focus; violence; women