This 5 year career development award will provide the candidate with training in mixed research methods and their applications to understanding substance use and migration impacts on HIV and blood borne infections (BBIs) in minority and vulnerable populations. The new qualitative and mixed-methods training coupled with a Ph.D. in public health and prior health services research will prepare the candidate for independent, policy oriented research on complex social and migration factors in HIV prevention in minority and disadvantaged communities. The proposed career and training goals employ didactic and mentored learning to: (1) Develop a thorough understanding of social and environmental factors that contribute to substance use and facilitate transmission of BBIs in migrants;(2) Acquire expertise in developing and implementing mixed-methods protocols (i.e., qualitative and quantitative methods) to study substance use issues;(3) Obtain ongoing training in the ethical conduct in research, especially vis-?-vis vulnerable populations;(4) Develop the skills necessary for a successful academic research career (e.g., publishing peer reviewed papers, presenting at professional meetings, grantsmanship);and (5) Acquire an in-depth understanding of theory-based interventions that may reduce transmission of BBIs among migrant injection drug users (IDUs). A key aspect of this training involves investigating the influence of migration on risky substance use and sexual behaviors among migrant female sex workers who inject drugs (FSW-IDUs) in Tijuana, a city on the U.S.-Mexico border. The prevalence of HIV in FSW-IDUs is 12.3% This study uses a mixed-methods approach to (1) characterize prior and future migration decisions and resources of FSW- IDUs in Tijuana;(2) Describe the influence of community and family migration experiences on FSW-IDUs'decisions to engage in sex work and substance use behaviors, and (3) Examine the relationship between migration factors and engagement in risky sex and substance use behaviors. Data generated from this study will be used by the applicant to develop an R01 or R34 targeting migrant FSW-IDUs and HIV risks in the U.S.-Mexico border region.

Public Health Relevance

The public health relevance of this study lies in the study population's role as a bridge population, meaning that sexually transmitted infections or other BBIs may become generalized through engagement in risky sex and substance use behaviors by FSw-IDUs and their clients to other populations residing in the U.S.-Mexico border region as well as tourists to the region.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Scientist Development Award - Research & Training (K01)
Project #
5K01DA025504-03
Application #
8036969
Study Section
Human Development Research Subcommittee (NIDA)
Program Officer
Hartsock, Peter
Project Start
2009-04-15
Project End
2014-03-31
Budget Start
2011-04-01
Budget End
2012-03-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$171,612
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California San Diego
Department
Family Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
804355790
City
La Jolla
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92093
Pinedo, Miguel; Beletsky, Leo; Alamillo, Nathan et al. (2017) Health-damaging policing practices among persons who inject drugs in Mexico: Are deported migrants at greater risk? Int J Drug Policy 46:41-46
Ferraiolo, Natalie; Pinedo, Miguel; McCurley, Jessica et al. (2016) Depressive symptoms among patients at a clinic in the Red Light District of Tijuana, Mexico. Int J Cult Ment Health 9:151-163
Smith, Laramie R; Patterson, Thomas L; Magis-Rodriguez, Carlos et al. (2016) Engagement in the HIV Care Continuum among Key Populations in Tijuana, Mexico. AIDS Behav 20:1017-25
Burgos, Jose L; Yee, Daniel C; Vargas-Ojeda, Adriana Carolina et al. (2016) The Health Frontiers in Tijuana Undergraduate Internship Program: A Novel Global Health Experience in Mexico for Pre-medical/Pre-health Undergraduates. J Health Care Poor Underserved 27:947-53
Muñoz, Fátima A; Servin, Argentina E; Garfein, Richard S et al. (2015) Deportation history among HIV-positive Latinos in two US-Mexico border communities. J Immigr Minor Health 17:104-11
Pinedo, Miguel; Burgos, Jose Luis; Ojeda, Adriana Vargas et al. (2015) The role of visual markers in police victimization among structurally vulnerable persons in Tijuana, Mexico. Int J Drug Policy 26:501-8
Pinedo, Miguel; Burgos, Jose Luis; Zuniga, Maria Luisa et al. (2015) Police Victimization Among Persons Who Inject Drugs Along the U.S.-Mexico Border. J Stud Alcohol Drugs 76:758-63
Pinedo, Miguel; Burgos, José Luis; Ojeda, Victoria D (2014) A critical review of social and structural conditions that influence HIV risk among Mexican deportees. Microbes Infect 16:379-90
Pinedo, Miguel; Burgos, José Luis; Robertson, Angela M et al. (2014) Perceived risk of HIV infection among deported male injection drug users in Tijuana, Mexico. Glob Public Health 9:436-54
Servin, Argentina E; Muñoz, Fátima A; Zúñiga, María Luisa (2014) Healthcare provider perspectives on barriers to HIV-care access and utilisation among Latinos living with HIV in the US-Mexico border. Cult Health Sex 16:587-99

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