Protocol: the American Women: Assessing Risk Epidemiologically (AWARE) cohort study

Rebecca Schnall; Mirjam Colette Kempf; Gregory Phillips; Jodie A. Dionne; Gina Wingood; Dustin Marsh Long; Robert Klitzman; Tonda L. Hughes; Jianfang Liu; Ariann F. Nassel; Jessica Lee Corcoran; Amy K. Johnson

doi:10.1186/s12889-024-20810-4

Protocol: the American Women: Assessing Risk Epidemiologically (AWARE) cohort study

Rebecca Schnall^*, Mirjam Colette Kempf, Gregory Phillips, Jodie A. Dionne, Gina Wingood, Dustin Marsh Long, Robert Klitzman, Tonda L. Hughes, Jianfang Liu, Ariann F. Nassel, Jessica Lee Corcoran, Amy K. Johnson

^*Corresponding author for this work

Medical Social Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Background: While progress has been made in reducing HIV incidence rates among cisgender women, it continues to fall short of reaching the goal of ending the HIV epidemic with no new cases. Objective: This study aims to use innovative electronic methods (e.g., social media with community-informed advertisements) to recruit and retain a large (N = 1,800), diverse national sample of women at higher risk for HIV seroconversion who are 14 years of age and older to better understand the predictors of HIV-related sexual risk and HIV incidence within the context of a theoretically-grounded social-ecological framework. Methods: A US-based national longitudinal cohort study was launched among cisgender women with greater likelihood of HIV seroconversion Participants complete a survey with items related to demographics, substance use, mental health symptoms, interpersonal violence and other social factors. Biospecimens include self-collected vaginal and rectal swabs, and blood in microtainers to test for HIV, syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis every 6 months for 2 years. Results: Participant recruitment began in June 2023 and baseline enrollment is scheduled to finish in July 2025. Discussion: Innovative and culturally sensitive strategies to improve access to HIV prevention and treatment services for cisgender women are vital to curb the burden of the HIV epidemic for this key population. Findings from this study will inform future research, intervention strategies, and public policies.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	3422
Journal	BMC public health
Volume	24
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20810-4
State	Published - Dec 2024

Funding

Research reported in this publication is supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institute of Health under award number R01 AI172469. This work was supported in part by the Emory University Center for AIDS Research (P30AI050409). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Keywords

Cisgender women
Cohort
HIV
STI
Self-sampling

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1186/s12889-024-20810-4

Cite this

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title = "Protocol: the American Women: Assessing Risk Epidemiologically (AWARE) cohort study",

abstract = "Background: While progress has been made in reducing HIV incidence rates among cisgender women, it continues to fall short of reaching the goal of ending the HIV epidemic with no new cases. Objective: This study aims to use innovative electronic methods (e.g., social media with community-informed advertisements) to recruit and retain a large (N = 1,800), diverse national sample of women at higher risk for HIV seroconversion who are 14 years of age and older to better understand the predictors of HIV-related sexual risk and HIV incidence within the context of a theoretically-grounded social-ecological framework. Methods: A US-based national longitudinal cohort study was launched among cisgender women with greater likelihood of HIV seroconversion Participants complete a survey with items related to demographics, substance use, mental health symptoms, interpersonal violence and other social factors. Biospecimens include self-collected vaginal and rectal swabs, and blood in microtainers to test for HIV, syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis every 6 months for 2 years. Results: Participant recruitment began in June 2023 and baseline enrollment is scheduled to finish in July 2025. Discussion: Innovative and culturally sensitive strategies to improve access to HIV prevention and treatment services for cisgender women are vital to curb the burden of the HIV epidemic for this key population. Findings from this study will inform future research, intervention strategies, and public policies.",

keywords = "Cisgender women, Cohort, HIV, STI, Self-sampling",

author = "Rebecca Schnall and Kempf, {Mirjam Colette} and Gregory Phillips and Dionne, {Jodie A.} and Gina Wingood and Long, {Dustin Marsh} and Robert Klitzman and Hughes, {Tonda L.} and Jianfang Liu and Nassel, {Ariann F.} and Corcoran, {Jessica Lee} and Johnson, {Amy K.}",

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year = "2024",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1186/s12889-024-20810-4",

language = "English (US)",

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AU - Kempf, Mirjam Colette

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AU - Dionne, Jodie A.

AU - Wingood, Gina

AU - Long, Dustin Marsh

AU - Klitzman, Robert

AU - Hughes, Tonda L.

AU - Liu, Jianfang

AU - Nassel, Ariann F.

AU - Corcoran, Jessica Lee

AU - Johnson, Amy K.

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AB - Background: While progress has been made in reducing HIV incidence rates among cisgender women, it continues to fall short of reaching the goal of ending the HIV epidemic with no new cases. Objective: This study aims to use innovative electronic methods (e.g., social media with community-informed advertisements) to recruit and retain a large (N = 1,800), diverse national sample of women at higher risk for HIV seroconversion who are 14 years of age and older to better understand the predictors of HIV-related sexual risk and HIV incidence within the context of a theoretically-grounded social-ecological framework. Methods: A US-based national longitudinal cohort study was launched among cisgender women with greater likelihood of HIV seroconversion Participants complete a survey with items related to demographics, substance use, mental health symptoms, interpersonal violence and other social factors. Biospecimens include self-collected vaginal and rectal swabs, and blood in microtainers to test for HIV, syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis every 6 months for 2 years. Results: Participant recruitment began in June 2023 and baseline enrollment is scheduled to finish in July 2025. Discussion: Innovative and culturally sensitive strategies to improve access to HIV prevention and treatment services for cisgender women are vital to curb the burden of the HIV epidemic for this key population. Findings from this study will inform future research, intervention strategies, and public policies.

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KW - Cohort

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Protocol: the American Women: Assessing Risk Epidemiologically (AWARE) cohort study

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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