Campus and Community HIV and Addiction Prevention (CCHAP): An HIV Testing and Prevention Model to Reach Young African American Adults.

The Campus and Community HIV and Addiction Prevention (CCHAP) project was a collaborative effort between three academic institutions and a community-based organization to conduct rapid HIV testing, assess substance use behaviors, and provide education on HIV risk behaviors for African Americans, 18-24, attending historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and within the surrounding community. As a result of this partnership 2,385 participants received a rapid HIV test, with testing split almost equally between the campus and the community. The positivity rate was .6% (N = 15) with 10 newly diagnosed individuals accounting for 67% of the HIV positives. The results of the partnership provide evidence of a successful outreach program for both the campus and community, and identified a continued need for HIV testing and educational outreach for African American young adults 18-24.

Factors associated with body mass index among African American breast cancer survivors.

BACKGROUND: Weight gain after diagnosis and treatment is common among breast cancer survivors (BCSs). Little information exists regarding associations between body mass index (BMI) and lifestyle factors and health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) among African American (AA) BCSs. The present study sought to determine associations between BMI, dietary intake, and physical activity as lifestyle modification strategies and HR-QoL among AA BCSs. METHODS: For this cross-sectional study, a lifestyle assessment tool was administered to 195 AA BCSs. Possible predictor variables included socio-demographic and medical characteristics, dietary intake and physical activity patterns, and physical health. The outcome variable was BMI. RESULTS: Many BCSs (63%) had BMIs ≥25 Kg/M2 and presented with stage I cancer (41%) at diagnosis. Among those presenting with late-stage cancer (IIIA, IIIB, IV), 76% were overweight or obese (p=0.0008). Eighty-four percent reported excellent-to-good physical health (p=0.0499) and were less likely to have higher BMIs compared to those reporting fair-to-poor physical health (OR=0.616 [CI=0.192-1.978]). Responders with graduate level education were more likely to have healthy body weights than those attaining high school or less educational levels (OR=2.379 [CI=0.617-9.166]). CONCLUSIONS: Most AA BCSs surveyed were overweight or obese, did not engage in recommended physical activity levels and failed to consume diets linked to breast cancer prevention. Interventions are needed to promote weight loss, improve dietary intake, and enhance physical activity among AA BCSs.

The BRAVE (Building Resiliency and Vocational Excellence) Program: evaluation findings for a career-oriented substance abuse and violence preventive intervention.

This article examines the effectiveness of a career-oriented intervention for preventing involvement with alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (ATODs) and violence and for promoting resilient behavior among eighth-grade, African American middle school students (N=178; n=92 intervention and n=86 comparison) through the implementation of the Building Resiliency and Vocational Excellence (BRAVE) Program. Students were randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. Students in the evaluation participated in the school-based BRAVE Program intervention and the standard public school curriculum. Comparison students participated only in the standard curriculum. Alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use and violent behavior were assessed for 178 students at baseline, post-test, and one-year follow up (one year after baseline). Results revealed a beneficial effect of the intervention on participants' frequency of use of alcohol (p<.04) and marijuana (p<.05), but no effect for violent behavior.

Short-term impact of an HIV risk reduction intervention for soon-to-be released inmates in Georgia.

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of an intervention seeking to reduce risk for HIV/AIDS infection among a sample of soon-to-be-released adult male inmates. This analysis is based on a random sample of 116 adult male prisoners recruited and interviewed prior to their participation in an HIV/AIDS and recidivism risk reduction intervention and again three months after they were reintegrated into the community. The intervention program was designed to reduce risky sexual behaviors and alcohol, tobacco, and other drug-related behaviors. It had a randomized, Latin-square design to evaluate adult male offenders across four conditions. Findings indicate that the intervention for the inmate population was effective in reducing sexual self-expectation and substance use and increasing condom use self-efficacy over a three-month period.