Feasibility of an HIV/STI Risk-Reduction Program for Incarcerated Women Who Have Experienced Interpersonal Violence

Abstract

HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and interpersonal violence (IV; e.g., childhood abuse, partner violence, and rape) victimization are significant and interconnected public health problems facing incarcerated women. We adapted a best-evidence HIV prevention intervention for women (the Women's CoOp) to address sexual safety among incarcerated women with histories of interpersonal violence victimization. The standard Women's CoOp teaches safe sex, substance use harm reduction, and violence prevention information and skills needed to empower women to make more intentional decisions about their safety. We also incorporated strategies to increase affect management, social support, and access to community resources. This resulted in the first trauma-focused HIV prevention intervention for women that directly addresses the sequelae of IV (such as affect dysregulation in sexual situations) within the context of HIV harm reduction. This manuscript describes the rationale, feasibility, acceptability, and pre-post outcomes of this intervention among 14 women nearing release from prison in two state prison systems. Assessments took place at baseline, prior to release, and at 2, 5, and 8 months after release. The intervention overall and each of its components were feasible and acceptable. Participants' number of unprotected sexual occasions, posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, and depressive symptoms decreased significantly from baseline to post-release. Effectiveness obtaining resources increased significantly from baseline to post-release. Because pre-post measurements of outcomes are confounded with incarceration and subsequent release in this preliminary study, a randomized controlled trial is needed to establish the efficacy of this tailored intervention.

Development of a trauma-informed substance use and sexual risk reduction intervention for young South African women

“…We integrated content on common coping responses to trauma and ways of managing these responses in relation to sex risk that was used in a previous adaptation of the WHC that focused on trauma among women incarcerated in US prisons. 28 We also added new cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) material on identifying and managing emotional and other triggers for substance use through mindfulness practice, thought stopping techniques, and other emotional regulation and coping strategies. We included these new components as they have been shown to reduce trauma-related internal triggers for substance use.…”

Drug Use and Incarceration among Rural Appalachian Women: Findings From a Jail Sample

“…The prevalence of mental health issues in general among incarcerated women has been well-documented (e.g., Gunter et al, 2012; Peters et al, 1997), as well as the prevalence of co-occurring mental health and substance abuse issues (Sacks, 2004; Staton-Tindall, Leukefeld, & Webster, 2003). Histories of victimization and violence among incarcerated women are also well-documented (e.g., Johnson et al, 2015; Radatz & Wright, 2015; Saxena, Messina, & Grella, 2014), and victimization has been noted as a factor distinguishing first time and repeat women offenders (Herbst, et al, 2016). Thus, these findings are fairly consistent with the broader literature for female offenders.…”

Educational technologies on sexually transmitted infections for incarcerated women

“…Of the eight studies that were included in the integrative review, five were identified in MEDLINE ( 25 - 29 ) , one in Cochrane ( 30 ) , one in ScienceDirect ( 31 ) , and one in CINAHL ( 32 ) . Most of the studies were developed in the United States (7) ( 25 - 30 , 32 ) and all of them were written in English. Only one article was prepared in Brazil ( 31 ) .…”