Alexandra Minnis is a full-time Assistant Adjunct Professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). She received a Ph.D. in epidemiology and an M.P.H. in epidemiology and biostatistics at UC Berkeley. This application for a five year Mentored Research Scientist Development Award includes training and mentoring in demography and in qualitative research methods with the objective of integrating these multidisciplinary approaches with epidemiology to conduct research on migration and reproductive health among Latino immigrant youth in the San Francisco Bay Area. Dr. Minnis has assembled a team of nationally known scientists at UCSF, the University of California, Berkeley, and the Mexican National Public Health Institute, who are enthusiastic about her training and research plan and are committed to the successful completion of this application. Through ethnographic interviews and a prospective cohort study with youth aged 15-24, recruited from San Francisco's Mission District, Dr. Minnis intends to 1) identify individual- and population-level characteristics and patterns of migration that are associated with high-risk reproductive health behaviors and outcomes, including sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy; 2) evaluate gender differences in migration patterns and changes in sexual behaviors, fertility preferences, and reproductive health outcomes; and 3) assess what aspects of the social context of immigration (e.g., size of social network, and age and ethnic diversity of friends) and/or the strength of social ties modify the relationships between characteristics and patterns of migration and reproductive health risks. In addition, Dr. Minnis will examine the feasibility of longitudinal follow-up of immigrant youth and identify the primary sending communities in Mexico and Central America for youth who reside in the San Francisco Bay Area. Thus, she will be prepared to develop bi-national research that builds on the work proposed here. ? Dr. Minnis is strongly committed to an academic career. She plans to conduct research on the structural and behavioral determinants of adverse reproductive health outcomes among immigrant Latino youth, with the objective of identifying effective strategies for public health intervention. ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Scientist Development Award - Research & Training (K01)
Project #
7K01HD047434-02
Application #
7614592
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZHD1-DSR-M (HB))
Program Officer
King, Rosalind B
Project Start
2007-07-01
Project End
2012-06-30
Budget Start
2008-01-07
Budget End
2008-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2007
Total Cost
$52,235
Indirect Cost
Name
Research Triangle Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
004868105
City
Research Triangle
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27709
vanDommelen-Gonzalez, Evan; Deardorff, Julianna; Herd, Denise et al. (2016) The Social Environment and Childbearing Expectations: Implications for Strength-Based Sexual Health Interventions for Latino Youth. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 3:291-300
van Dommelen-Gonzalez, Evan; Deardorff, Julianna; Herd, Denise et al. (2015) Homies with aspirations and positive peer network ties: associations with reduced frequent substance use among gang-affiliated Latino youth. J Urban Health 92:322-37
Minnis, Alexandra M; vanDommelen-Gonzalez, Evan; Luecke, Ellen et al. (2015) Social network recruitment for Yo Puedo: an innovative sexual health intervention in an underserved urban neighborhood—sample and design implications. J Prim Prev 36:51-64
Minnis, Alexandra M; Mavedzenge, Sue Napierala; Luecke, Ellen et al. (2014) Provider counseling to young women seeking family planning services. Perspect Sex Reprod Health 46:223-31
Laborde, Nicole D; vanDommelen-Gonzalez, Evan; Minnis, Alexandra M (2014) Trust - that's a big one: intimate partnership values among urban Latino youth. Cult Health Sex 16:1009-22
Minnis, Alexandra M; vanDommelen-Gonzalez, Evan; Luecke, Ellen et al. (2014) Yo Puedo--a conditional cash transfer and life skills intervention to promote adolescent sexual health: results of a randomized feasibility study in san francisco. J Adolesc Health 55:85-92
Tucker, Christine M; Torres-Pereda, Pilar; Minnis, Alexandra M et al. (2013) Migration Decision-Making among Mexican Youth: Individual, Family, and Community Influences. Hisp J Behav Sci 35:61-84
Minnis, Alexandra M; Marchi, Kristen; Ralph, Lauren et al. (2013) Limited socioeconomic opportunities and Latina teen childbearing: a qualitative study of family and structural factors affecting future expectations. J Immigr Minor Health 15:334-40
Rathod, Sujit D; Minnis, Alexandra M; Subbiah, Kalyani et al. (2011) ACASI and face-to-face interviews yield inconsistent estimates of domestic violence among women in India: The Samata Health Study 2005-2009. J Interpers Violence 26:2437-56
van der Straten, Ariane; Cheng, Helen; Minnis, Alexandra M (2010) Change in condom and other barrier method use during and after an HIV prevention trial in Zimbabwe. J Int AIDS Soc 13:39

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