The effects of psychosocial factors, distress, and disclosure on the health outcome of HIV-1 positive African-American women

The rate of AIDS among minority women is increasing due to larger numbers infected by means of heterosexual transmission. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of coping, social support, and family function on health/immune outcome, the effects of health/immune variables on the aforementioned variables, the association between distress variables with health/immune variables and the effects of disclosure on health and psychological variables in a sample of African-American women.Faster declines in CD4 count are associated with higher levels of social support satisfaction. The number of people to whom HIV status was disclosed, and the depth of disclosure relationship were found to be moderators in this relationship between change in CD4 count and social support satisfaction. In addition, as average change in CD4 count becomes more positive, higher levels of disclosure is associated with greater satisfaction with social support. Also, as average change in CD4 count becomes more positive, a greater depth of disclosure relationship is associated with greater satisfaction with social support. The results also suggest that greater increases in CD3% are associated with higher levels of family functioning.Higher levels of maladaptive coping and number of people in the social network are associated with higher levels of perceived stress and that higher levels of maladaptive coping are associated with higher levels of depression. In addition, higher levels of maladaptive coping and higher levels of family functioning are associated with an increased frequency of hassles and a higher level of maladaptive coping is associated with a higher intensity of hassles.Those who are high disclosers exhibit higher rates of increase in NK% than those who are low disclosers. In addition, higher levels of communication within a family on the SFSR tasks is related to higher numbers of people present at the SFSR taping with whom information about HIV status has been shared.These results indicate that immune variables may influence psychosocial outcomes in this population that maladaptive coping strategies are associated with higher levels of distress and that disclosure and family functioning may play a role in the interaction between immune variables and psychosocial variables

The Protective Role of the Family and Social Support Network in a Sample of Hiv-Positive African American Women: Results of a Pilot Study

This study examined the role of family functioning and social support in protecting HIV-positive African American women from the adverse psychological consequences associated with deterioration in their CD4 cell count. Participants were 38 African American HIV-positive women who had recently given birth. Results demonstrated that changes in CD4 cell counts were inversely predictive of psychological distress and were moderated by family functioning and social support satisfaction. Women with good family functioning were less affected by changes in their CD4 cell counts, and women with poor family functioning were more emotionally responsive to changes in CD4 cell count. Unexpectedly, women from families where conflicts tended to be clearly laid out and discussed were also more responsive to both changes in CD4 cell counts. Interventions are recommended that increase a client’s social support satisfaction, foster an adaptive level of connectedness to family, and enhance the family’s range of conflict resolution styles

The Effects of Priming on a Public Health Campaign Targeting Cardiovascular Risks

Public health interventions are cost-effective methods to reduce heart disease. The present study investigated the impact of a low-cost priming technique on a public health campaign targeting cardiovascular risk. Participants were 415 individuals (66% female) ages 18 and older recruited through clinics and churches. The study consisted of three phases. In Phase I, participants completed a brief survey to assess knowledge of the cardiovascular health indicators. The survey served as the prime (intervention) for the study. At Phase II, participants were provided with access to a public health campaign consisting of an education brochure on cardiovascular health. Following the educational campaign, all participants completed a post-campaign survey in Phase III of the study. Participants who completed the surveys in both Phase I and III were placed in the intervention condition (26%) and those who only completed the Phase III survey were placed in the control condition (74%). Participants who were primed reported greater awareness of the public health campaign. Additionally, more intervention participants reported they had knowledge of their own and the normal ranges for cholesterol, glucose, and body mass index. For participants who were aware of the health promotion campaign, more participants in the primed group indicated they had knowledge of their own cholesterol and glucose levels and had made positive lifestyle changes as a result of the campaign. Results suggest the presence of a priming effect. Public health campaigns may benefit from the inclusion of a low-cost prime prior to intervention

Lessons from the Fields: A Migrant HIV Prevention Project

Migrant and seasonal workers are vulnerable to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) due to poverty, inadequate knowledge of preventive strategies, and lack of access to health care. This study addresses the disparate impact of HIV among Hispanic and African American migrant workers in Immokalee, Florida, who use alcohol and other drugs. Through pilot testing to adapt the experimental and comparison interventions to these two distinct populations, research staff have learned the importance of (1) establishing and maintaining trust between outreach staff and the migrant community; (2) being aware of cultural nuances and practices that might create challenges to the research process, and the interaction of these factors with poverty; and (3) having flexibility in recruitment and intervention. As one of the first intervention studies in this population to use an experimental design and to focus on the social and contextual factors that contribute to risky behaviors, these lessons may provide guidance for future researchers