Project E-WORTH South Bridging the Trust Gap (BTG)

Project E-WORTH South BTG study addresses the significant disparities in HIV incidence and prevention medication utilization between low-income cisgender Black women and White women in the U.S. South. It focuses on Black women in community corrections, who face exacerbated risks of HIV/STI transmission due to various social and structural determinants of health, as well as culturally incongruent prevention strategies. Leveraging the existing E-WORTH intervention, which has been effective in the Northeast for decades, this study aims to tailor and pilot "E-WORTH South" to address Southern-specific factors and optimize its implementation. The study will assess the impact of provider-related factors on HIV/STI testing and prevention medication uptake, using innovative methods like artificial intelligence and dyadic data analysis. Ultimately, the goal is to enhance the intervention’s effectiveness and gather preliminary data for a larger randomized control trial to improve health outcomes for Black women in community corrections in the South.

Study location: Tuscaloosa and other counties to be identified

My role: Principal Investigator