Applying CBPR principles to shape a multimedia HIV prevention intervention for women in the criminal justice system

Background: Few culturally tailored HIV prevention interventions have been developed for women offenders. Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is a guiding principle for HIV research to bridge the research/practice gap and develop relevant interventions.

Methods: Authors are conducting a NIDA-funded trial of a multimedia group-based HIV prevention intervention tailored for women in the criminal justice system. A group of women “community consultants” meeting eligibility criteria was recruited from court programs to inform the multimedia and cultural adaptation. Meetings were organized to address the following: 1)How can the language and content of the intervention maintain its focus while being culturally relevant? 2)What are barriers/supports to safer sex negotiation for women offenders? 3)How can multimedia tools engage and not alienate participants?

Results: Eight women met with members of the research team twice-monthly for four months. Two barriers to safer sex negotiation emerged: intimate partner violence and having an incarcerated sexual partner. Consultant feedback was incorporated into an iterative process of intervention refinement, including: 1)Consultants role-playing and editing a video script describing safer sex negotiation; 2)Consultants demonstrating how to discuss intimate partner violence; and 3)Consultants beta-testing multimedia components of HIV prevention activities.

Conclusions: Multimedia translation of interventions is a prime opportunity for CBPR and cultural adaptation. Women quickly vocalized their frank opinions regarding intervention materials. The refined intervention has more relevance to and impact on the study population. Multimedia activities can be effective tools in skills training and retention, providing the activities are interactive and do not require high literacy skills.