Adaptation and Pilot Testing of a Sexual Health Intervention for Female Survivors of Violence. Issue 1 (2nd January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Montgomery, Brooke E. E.; Jones, Amy; Sanders, Sharon E.; McGraw, Angela; Williams, Barbara; Stewart, Katherine E.; Ounpraseuth, Songthip
• Is Part Of: American journal of sexuality education. Volume 13:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 40
• Page End: 64
• Publication Date: 2018-01-02
• Subjects: Battered women -- intervention/treatment -- intervention -- mental health and violence -- sexuality; Sex instruction -- Periodicals; 613.9071
• DOI: 10.1080/15546128.2017.1410871
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1554-6128

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Experiences of violence and behaviors that increase the risk of acquiring a sexually transmitted infection are high among women in the United States, and they often intersect (Meyer, Springer, & Altice, 2011 ; Montgomery et al., 2015 ; World Health Organization (WHO), 2010 ). However, there are few evidence-based HIV-prevention interventions that address the special needs and challenges faced by female survivors of violence (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC), 2017a ). To address this gap, we adapted and pilot-tested an existing evidence-based women-focused sexual risk-reduction intervention (The Future Is Ours) with 23 self-identified female survivors of violence. The intervention comprised eight-weekly, two-hour cognitive behavioral group sessions focusing on reducing sexual-risk and improving trauma-based coping skills. Using mixed-methods analyses, the adapted intervention was determined feasible and acceptable to participants, and preliminary results suggest that participation could reduce risk factors for sexually transmitted infections. Therefore, testing on a larger scale is warranted.