Although the overall rate of new HIV infections among women in the U.S. has declined, significant racial and ethnic disparities still exist. Nationally, the rate of HIV infections among African American women is 20 times higher than for white women, and for Latinas, the rate is 4.5 times higher than for white women. Intimate partner violence (IPV) has been associated with increased risk for HIV. The lifetime prevalence of IPV among women in the U.S. ranges from 22% to 55%, with higher rates among low-income, minority populations. Women in violent relationships have few feasible risk reduction options because traditional prevention methods, including female-controlled methods (e.g., the female condom), are largely dependent on a partner’s cooperation. There is a need to identify acceptable, feasible, and effective female-controlled HIV risk reduction methods for women in violent relationships as well as to address potential barriers to acceptability of these methods. One such strategy is oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP; tenofovir/emtricitabine). Since 2012, medication for PrEP has been FDA-approved in the U.S. with guidance for its use to all individuals at significant risk for HIV. However, the majority of women in the U.S. are not aware of oral PrEP as an HIV prevention strategy that applies to them. The overarching aim is to determine perceived barriers and facilitators to PrEP among Blacks and Latina women who use alcohol and are at significant risk for HIV.
Villalba, K., Jean-Gilles, M., Rosenberg, R., Cook, R. L., Ichite, A., Martin, P., & Dévieux, J. G. (2021). Understanding the impact of intimate partner violence type and timing on pre-exposure prophylaxis knowledge, acceptability, sexual behavior, and gender roles among women of color. Journal of interpersonal violence, 08862605211001468. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33752483/
Villalba, K., Cook, C., Dévieux, J. G., Ibanez, G. E., Oghogho, E., Neira, C., & Cook, R. L. (2020). Facilitators and barriers to a contingency management alcohol intervention involving a transdermal alcohol sensor. Heliyon, 6(3), e03612. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32258468/
Villalba K, Rosenberg R, Jean-Gilles. M, Cook. RL, Dévieux JG. Attitudes, Gender Roles, and Likelihood of PrEP Uptake Among Women in Violent Relationships at risk for HIV. National Hispanic Science Network. Virtual Meeting, 2020.
Villalba K, Guiles M, Dévieux JG, Effects of childhood abuse on emotion and health-risk behaviors among women of color at risk for HIV. American Public Health Association. Virtual Meeting, 2020
Villalba, K., Domenico, L. H., Cook, R. L., O’Connor, J., Michael-Samaroo, K., Pino Espejo, M. J. D., Martin, P., & Dévieux, J. G The Relationships Between Lifetime Abuse, Emotion regulation, Cognitive function and Risky Behaviors Among Women at Risk for HIV. RCMI Consortium, Virtual 2022
Jean-Gilles, M., Ichite. A., Augustin. A., Isma. B., Jean-Baptiste. J., Jadue, A., Leon, A., Williamson. M., Villalba., K. Examining attitudes about PrEP among immigrant women in South Florida. Florida HIV Community, Providers, and Researchers (CPR) Conference. Virtual Meeting 2021.
Ichite A, Mills , Villalba K, Jean-Gilles M, Saxena A, Dévieux J, Exploring adherence to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Program guidelines in a high risk HIV negative population: A retrospective records review study Florida. Florida HIV Community, Providers, and Researchers (CPR) Conference. Virtual Meeting 2021.
Villalba K, Jean-Gilles M, Rosenberg R, Cook RL, Dévieux JG. Attitudes and Beliefs regarding Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV Prevention Among Women in Violent Relationships. CPH Conference, University of Florida., 2019