Misperceptions regarding protective barrier method use for safer sex among African-American women who have sex with women

Sexual Health ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina A. Muzny ◽  
Hanne S. Harbison ◽  
Elizabeth S. Pembleton ◽  
Edward W. Hook ◽  
Erika L. Austin
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Safer Sex ◽  
Grocery Stores ◽  
Jefferson County ◽  
Barrier Methods ◽  
Female Condoms

Background Barrier methods for HIV and sexually transmissible infection (STI) prevention among women who have sex with women (WSW) are available, although their effectiveness has not been systematically investigated. These methods are infrequently used by WSW. As part of a larger study on STI risk perceptions and safer sex among African-American WSW, we discovered several misperceptions regarding barrier methods that may be associated with their limited use. Methods: Participants were recruited from the Jefferson County Health Department STI Clinic and through word of mouth in Birmingham, Alabama, for focus group discussions exploring perceptions of STI risk and safer sex. Results: Seven focus groups with 29 participants were conducted (age range: 19–43 years). Several misperceptions regarding barrier methods were identified, notably the conflation of dental dams and female condoms. Descriptions of the use of barrier methods were qualified with phrases suggesting their hypothetical, rather than actual, use. Additional evidence that barrier methods are not actually used came from beliefs that dental dams and female condoms are available in major grocery stores or department store chains. Conclusions: Those providing sexual health services to WSW should be cautious in assuming that WSW have accurate information regarding barrier methods for safer sex. Sexual health services provided to WSW should include an accurate description of what barrier methods are, how to distinguish them from barrier methods more commonly used during heterosexual sex (female and male condoms), and how to use them correctly. Future studies are needed to address how effectively these measures reduce transmission of STIs among WSW.

Latina and African American Women: Continuing Disparities in Health

1993 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 555-584 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marsha Lillie-Blanton ◽  
Rose Marie Martinez ◽  
Andrea Kidd Taylor ◽  
Betty Garman Robinson
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Social Class ◽  
Health Services ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Racial Differences ◽  
Family Income ◽  
Work Conditions ◽  
Social Conditions ◽  
Minority Population ◽  
American Women

Women of all races have faced incredible challenges as they sought to realize the promises of America. For women of color, these challenges were compounded by the second-class citizenship of U.S. racial and ethnic minority population groups. In an effort to assess the quality of life experienced by Latina and African American women, this article provides descriptive information on racial/ethnic differences in women's social conditions, health status, exposure to occupational and environmental risks, and use of health services. When possible, indices are stratified by family income to limit the effects of social class on the comparison of racial differences. The authors provide evidence that Latina and African American women are more likely than nonminority women to encounter social environments (e.g., poverty, densely populated neighborhoods, hazardous work conditions) that place them at risk for ill-health and injury. Although persistent racial disparities in health are often attributed to the lifestyle behaviors of racial minority populations, they are undoubtedly a consequence of poorer social conditions as well as barriers in access to quality health services. To achieve further gains, public policies must reduce social inequalities (i.e., by gender, race, and social class) and assure greater equity in access to resources that facilitate healthier environments and lifestyles. Public health initiatives should be community-based, reflecting a shared partnership that actively engages minority women in decision-making about their lives.

Evaluation of a Sexual Health Approach to Prevent HIV Among Low Income, Urban, Primarily African American Women: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial

2002 ◽  
Vol 14 (3_supplement) ◽  
pp. 81-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatrice “Bean” E. Robinson ◽  
Gary Uhl ◽  
Michael Miner ◽  
Walter O. Bockting ◽  
Karen E. Scheltema ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
African American ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
American Women ◽  
Randomized Controlled

Giving Our Daughters What We Never Received

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 128-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheila R. Grigsby
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Teen Pregnancy ◽  
Behavioral Control ◽  
Perceived Behavioral Control ◽  
African American Girls ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
African American Mothers

African American girls experience disparate rates of pregnancy and acquisition of sexually transmitted infections, including human immunodeficiency virus, when compared to their non-Hispanic White counterparts. Among African American girls, current pregnancy rates are equal to the national crisis levels of teen pregnancy reported in 1990. This qualitative elicitation study was conducted to gain insight into the ways in which African American mothers and their daughters, between the ages of 9 and 14, communicate about sexual health. Early sexual health communication between mothers and daughters is known to enhance the sexual health outcomes of girls. A series of four focus groups and three in-depth interviews were conducted between July and September 2014. The theory of planned behavior was the organizing framework. Theoretical constructs that guided this study were attitudes, perceived behavioral control, and subjective norms. Results showed that what African American women share with their daughters about sexual health stems from their personal faith, values, and experiences. Findings from this study can inform interventions to provide support for this understudied population. Moreover, there are implications for health-care providers, particularly school nurses, who are in an ideal position to help increase mothers’ self-efficacy to engage in sexual health conversations with their young daughters.

scholarly journals Development of a Mobile App to Support Self-Management of Anxiety and Depression in African American Women: A Usability Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terika McCall ◽  
Muhammad Osama Ali ◽  
Fei Yu ◽  
Paul Fontelo ◽  
Saif Khairat
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
African American ◽  
User Interface ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Usability Testing ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
American Women

BACKGROUND Anxiety and depressive disorders are the most common mental health conditions among African American women (AAW). Despite the need for mental health care, AAW significantly underutilize mental health services. Past mHealth studies revealed significant improvement in anxiety or depressive symptoms post-intervention. Use of mobile applications (apps) has the potential to eliminate or mitigate barriers for AAW seeking to access mental health services and resources. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the usability of the prototype of an app designed to support self-management of anxiety and depression in AAW. METHODS Individual usability testing sessions were conducted with 15 participants in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Cognitive walkthrough and a think-aloud protocol were used to evaluate the user interface. Eye tracking glasses were used to record participants’ visual focus and gaze path as they performed tasks. The Questionnaire for User Interface Satisfaction was administered following each session to assess participants’ acceptance of the app. RESULTS Participants positively rated the usability of the prototype and provided recommendations for app improvement. The average of means scores for usability assessment (i.e., overall reactions to the software, screen, terminology and app information, learning, and app capabilities) ranged from 7.2 to 8.8 on a scale from 0 to 9 (low to high rating) for user tasks. Most participants were able to complete each task with limited or no assistance. Design recommendations included improving the user interface by adding graphics and color, adding a tutorial for first-time users, curating a list of Black women therapist within the app, adding details about tracking anxiety and depression in the check-up graphs, informing users that they can use the talk-to-text feature for journal entries to reduce burden, relabeling the mental health information icon, monitoring for crisis support, and improving clickthrough sequencing. CONCLUSIONS This study provided better understanding of user experience with an app tailored to support management of anxiety and depression for AAW, an underserved group. Since AAW have high rates of smartphone ownership, there is a great opportunity to use mobile technology to provide access to needed mental health services and resources. Future work will include incorporating feedback from the usability testing and focus group sessions to refine and further develop the app. The updated app will undergo iterative usability testing prior to launching the pilot study to assess efficacy. CLINICALTRIAL

Sexual Health Behavior and Mental Health Among Older African American Women: The Sistahs, Sexuality, and Mental Health Well-Being Project

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (9) ◽  
pp. 1177-1185 ◽  
Author(s):  
April D. Thames ◽  
Andrea Hammond ◽  
Rodolfo A. Nunez ◽  
Zanjbeel Mahmood ◽  
Felica Jones ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
African American ◽  
Health Behavior ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Well Being ◽  
American Women ◽  
Older African American Women
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