Many crack-using women are unemployed and homeless, thus increasing their dependence on men who may demand sex in return for supplying basic survival needs such as food and shelter. Consequently, they are at increased risk of HIV infection. This presentation compares the effects on homelessness and employment status of a woman-focused Afro-centric intervention emphasizing empowerment relative to a generic standard intervention and a delayed treatment control group. A total of 378 out-of-treatment crack-using African-American women participated in a randomized field experiment in North Carolina and completed a follow-up interview 3 months later. Between baseline and follow-up, homelessness in the control group increased from 31% to 33%. Concurrently homelessness decreased from 26% to 20% in the standard group and from 36% to 19% in the woman-focused group. Between baseline and follow-up full-time employment increased from 9% to 11% in the control group, from 11% to 16% in the standard group, and from 11% to 28% in the woman-focused group. In a logistic regression model that adjusted for homelessness at baseline, relative to the control group, the odds of being homeless were significantly lower in the woman-focused group (OR=.35; 95% C.I. .18, .69). In another logistic regression model that adjusted for baseline employment status, relative to the control group, the woman-focused group was significantly more likely to be employed fulltime (OR=3.44; 95% C.I. 1.64, 7.22). Differences between the standard and control groups were not significant in either model. These findings suggest that a brief woman-focused Afro-centric intervention is effective in empowering African-American women. See overhill.health.org/asf1/1Events/01-1022APHAAtRiskPart2-56.asx
Learning Objectives: Participants will gain an understanding of the relationship between HIV risk reduction intervention effects with homelessness and unemployment among crack-using African-American women.
Keywords: , Homelessness
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.