Empowerment Intervention for Young Women - Phase I

This study will develop/adapt a culturally appropriate secondary prevention intervention for young HIV+ women through focus groups. Using three intervention sites, focus groups will guide the development of the intervention's framework and content areas. An initial list of content areas and potential activities for presentation to the focus groups will be developed by the protocol team by reviewing existing HIV prevention interventions that have been implemented with adolescents and young adults, as well as interventions that have targeted HIV+ populations.

Three focus groups will be convened (1 per selected ATN site) with young women living with HIV to solicit information on their intervention needs. All focus groups will be digitally recorded and transcribed. Executive summaries of the groups will focus on the major themes elicited by probes that explore the proposed content and structure of the interventions. The summaries will be generated by members of the Protocol Team and based on a review and integration of data from a) focus group flip charts; b) digitally recorded comments from participants; c) digitally recorded oral summaries by moderators offered during the focus groups; and d) thematic notes taken by the assistant moderator during the focus groups. Based on the outcome of the focus groups, intervention modules will be developed and modified in collaboration with the Youth Advisory Team.

Inclusion criteria

• Female at birth and currently female;
• Receives services at one of the selected ATN sites or their community partners;
• HIV-infected as documented by medical record review or verbal verification with referring professional;
• Between the ages of 16-24 (inclusive) at the time of informed consent/assent;
• Ability to understand both written and spoken English; and
• Gives informed consent/assent for study participation.

Exclusion criteria

• Presence of active, serious psychiatric symptoms (hallucinations, thought disorder) that would impair a participant's ability to meet the study requirements;
• Visibly distraught (suicidal, homicidal, exhibiting violent behavior);
• If other serious conditions are present during screening, the Protocol Team must be consulted to determine whether enrollment may interfere with the evaluation of the protocol objectives and for permission to proceed with the enrollment; or
• Intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol or other substances at the time of study enrollment*.

• Participants cannot be visibly under the influence at the time of consent, enrollment, or during the focus group. Intoxication at the time of the focus group will exclude participation.