The proposed study's overarching goal is to reduce the ethnic disparities in HIV infection between Hispanic and non-Hispanic youth living in Miami-Dade County, an HIV epicenter. This goal will be accomplished by two aims:
AIM 1 is to develop and manualize a one-and-a-half- month streamlined version of an efficacious HIV preventive intervention entitled Familias Unidas;
and AIM II is to evaluate the efficacy of the streamlined version of Familias Unidas plus an HIV Prevention School CurriculumTreatment as Usual, relative to the HIV Prevention School Curriculum Treatment as Usual only, in preventing drug use and unprotected sexual behavior, two risk factors for HIV infection. Familias Unidas aims to prevent drug use and unprotected sexual behavior by (a) increasing family functioning, (b) increasing parental monitoring of peer activities, and (c) influencing adolescent social cognitive mechanisms regarding drug use and unsafe sexual behavior. A sample of 240 Hispanic 9th grade adolescents and their primary caregivers will be randomized to one of two conditions: Familias Unidas plus the HIV School Curriculum Treatment as Usual (hereafter refererred to as Familias Unidas) or the HIV Prevention School Curriculum Treatment as Usual only. Two studies have demonstrated the efficacy of an intensive, 9 to 12 month version of Familias Unidas. In the first study, Familias Unidas was shown to be efficacious relative to a no- intervention control condition in increasing family functioning. In the second study, Familias Unidas was found to be efficacious in preventing drug use and unsafe sexual behavior relative to two attention control conditions. Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM) will be used to test: (H1) Familias Unidas will be more efficacious than the HIV Prevention School Curriculum Treatment as Usual in preventing adolescent drug use over time and (H2) Familias Unidas will be more efficacious than the HIV Prevention School Curriculum Treatment as Usual in preventing adolescent unprotected sexual behavior over time. Additionally HLM will be used to determine whether (H1a) the effect of Familias Unidas on drug use will be partially mediated by (1) family functioning;(2) parental monitoring of peers;and (3) social cognitive mechanisms regarding drug use;and (H2a) the effect of Familias Unidas on unprotected sexual behavior will be partially mediated by (1) family functioning;(2) parental monitoring of peers;(3) social cognitive mechanisms regarding unprotected sex;and (4) drug use. The objective of the proposed study is to reduce HIV contraction health disparities in Hispanic populations. The knowledge expected to be gained from this study will aid in the development of interventions to reduce drug use, unprotected sexual behavior, and HIV in Hispanic adolescents.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STDS and Tb Prevention (NCHHSTP)
Type
Research Project--Cooperative Agreements (U01)
Project #
5U01PS000671-03
Application #
7683175
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZPS1-FXR (03))
Project Start
2007-09-30
Project End
2011-09-29
Budget Start
2009-09-30
Budget End
2010-09-29
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$216,191
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Miami School of Medicine
Department
Type
DUNS #
052780918
City
Coral Gables
State
FL
Country
United States
Zip Code
33146
Brincks, Ahnalee; Perrino, Tatiana; Howe, George et al. (2018) Preventing Youth Internalizing Symptoms Through the Familias Unidas Intervention: Examining Variation in Response. Prev Sci 19:49-59
Brown, C Hendricks; Brincks, Ahnalee; Huang, Shi et al. (2018) Two-Year Impact of Prevention Programs on Adolescent Depression: an Integrative Data Analysis Approach. Prev Sci 19:74-94
Brincks, Ahnalee; Montag, Samantha; Howe, George W et al. (2018) Addressing Methodologic Challenges and Minimizing Threats to Validity in Synthesizing Findings from Individual-Level Data Across Longitudinal Randomized Trials. Prev Sci 19:60-73
Martinez, Marcos J; Huang, Shi; Estrada, Yannine et al. (2017) The Relationship Between Acculturation, Ecodevelopment, and Substance Use Among Hispanic Adolescents. J Early Adolesc 37:948-974
Gallo, Carlos; Pantin, Hilda; Villamar, Juan et al. (2015) Blending Qualitative and Computational Linguistics Methods for Fidelity Assessment: Experience with the Familias Unidas Preventive Intervention. Adm Policy Ment Health 42:574-85
Estrada, Yannine; Rosen, Alexa; Huang, Shi et al. (2015) Efficacy of a Brief Intervention to Reduce Substance Use and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Risk Among Latino Youth. J Adolesc Health :
Farrelly, Colleen; Cordova, David; Huang, Shi et al. (2013) The role of acculturation and family functioning in predicting HIV risk behaviors among Hispanic delinquent youth. J Immigr Minor Health 15:476-83
Malcolm, Shandey; Huang, Shi; Cordova, David et al. (2013) Predicting condom use attitudes, norms, and control beliefs in Hispanic problem behavior youth: the effects of family functioning and parent-adolescent communication about sex on condom use. Health Educ Behav 40:384-91
Brown, C Hendricks; Mohr, David C; Gallo, Carlos G et al. (2013) A computational future for preventing HIV in minority communities: how advanced technology can improve implementation of effective programs. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 63 Suppl 1:S72-84
Prado, Guillermo; Lightfoot, Marguerita; Brown, C Hendricks (2013) Macro-level approaches to HIV prevention among ethnic minority youth: state of the science, opportunities, and challenges. Am Psychol 68:286-99

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