The Health, Enlightenment, Awareness, and Living (HEAL) Intervention: Outcome of an HIV and Hepatitis B and C Risk Reduction Intervention.
African American women have among the highest HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B and C incidence rates in the United States, especially among those homeless or incarcerated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the Health Enlightenment, Awareness and Living Intervention, designed to decrease HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and related risky behaviors. The thirteen-session intervention was implemented among homeless and formerly incarcerated low-income African American women, ages 18 to 55, in Atlanta, Georgia from 2006 to 2010. A single group repeated measures study design was employed and consisted of a pre-test (n = 355) group, an immediate post-test (n = 228) group with a response rate of 64%, and a six-month follow up (n = 110) group with response rate of 48%, completing a 135-item survey. Paired-sample t-tests, McNemar tests, and repeated measures ANOVA were applied to compare survey results. Participants demonstrated statistically significant increases in hepatitis B and C knowledge over time (p < 0.001). Statistically significant decreases were also reported for unprotected sex in exchange for money, drugs or shelter (p = 0.008), and sex under the influence of drugs or alcohol (p < 0.001). Reported substance use decreased with statistical significance for alcohol (p = 0.011), marijuana (p = 0.011), illegal drugs (p = 0.002), and crack/cocaine (p = 0.003). Findings broaden the evidence base related to the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS and hepatitis risk reduction interventions designed for homeless and previously incarcerated African American women.
Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine Prevention Research Center, 720 Westview Drive SW, Atlanta, GA 30310, USA. takintobi@msm.edu.
Tabia
T
Henry-Akintobi
Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road Atlanta, GA 30329, USA. nlaster@cdc.gov.
Nastassia
N
Laster
Wholistic Stress Control Institute, Incorporated, 2545 Benjamin E Mays Drive, Atlanta, GA 30311, USA. jt@wholistic1.com.
Jennie
J
Trotter
University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Education, 1720 2nd Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35294, USA. djacobs@uab.edu.
DeBran
D
Jacobs
Wholistic Stress Control Institute, Incorporated, 2545 Benjamin E Mays Drive, Atlanta, GA 30311, USA. tjohnson@wholistic1.com.
Tarita
T
Johnson
Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine Prevention Research Center, 720 Westview Drive SW, Atlanta, GA 30310, USA. tgordon@msm.edu.
Tandeca
T
King Gordon
McKing Consulting Corporation, 2900 Chamblee Tucker Road, Building 10, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA. amiller@msm.edu.
Assia
A
Miller
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005845:Georgia; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012309:Risk-Taking; D055815:Young Adult
HIV/AIDS risk reduction; health disparities; hepatitis risk reduction
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