Using CBPR to Engage Hazardous Drinking Women in the HIV Prevention and Care Continuum

Overview

Unhealthy alcohol use among women with and at risk for HIV can interrupt critical steps in the HIV prevention and care continuum, is associated with HIV transmission risk behaviors, and contributes to health disparities. Thus it is critical to accurately identify alcohol use and implement alcohol interventions among women with and at risk for HIV to optimize health outcomes. The proposed pilot study will examine the implementation and effects of a computer delivered brief alcohol intervention with peer navigation/Community Health Worker compared to usual care on alcohol use, linkage to health services, and uptake of HIV prevention practices.

Women account for 1 in 4 people living with HIV (PLWH) in the United States, and while African American (AA) women comprise only 14% of the US female population, African American women account for greater than 60% of women living with HIV (WLWH). Unhealthy alcohol use interrupts critical steps in the HIV prevention and care continuum (HPACC) and thus contributes to significant health disparities among at-risk and WLWH. The investigators have developed theory-based, in-person and computer-delivered brief interventions (CBI) for at risk and WLWH with alcohol use, demonstrating drinking reduction. However behavioral and structural barriers to optimal uptake of alcohol interventions and engagement in the HPACC remain, including mental health comorbidity and low knowledge, access, and use of HIV prevention practices such as HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The goals of this proposal are two-fold: 1) to build on the investigators' current community partnerships to determine how to optimally implement evidence based alcohol treatment for at risk and WLWH in Baltimore, and 2) to determine whether the addition of information, motivational and peer navigator/Community Health Worker support related to comorbid mental health, and HIV prevention practices can enhance CBI and improve alcohol and HPACC outcomes among at risk and WLWH. To achieve these goals the investigators will use a Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) approach, engaging patient and community stakeholders during all aspects of study development, and community pilot testing. In collaboration with the investigators' Community Advisory Board (CAB), the investigators will: 1) adapt the investigators' current CBI to address gaps in the HIV prevention and care continuum (CBI-CC). The investigators will conduct focus groups with both at risk and WLWH to tailor intervention manuals. 2) The investigators will conduct a pilot study of CBI-CC and peer navigation among 30 at-risk or WLWH with unhealthy alcohol use. The investigators hypothesize that the CBI-CC will result in reduction in drinking and heavy drinking days, increase linkage to substance use, and mental health services and HIV pre exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and increase use of HIV prevention practices including condoms and PrEP. Through this U34 planning grant the investigators will partner with key stakeholders in the community to build capacity to deliver effective, evidence-based interventions at the nexus of alcohol and HIV for at risk and WLWH with alcohol misuse, and improve engagement in the HIV prevention and care continuum.