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Theoretical Implications of Gender, Power, and Sexual Scripts for HIV Prevention Programs Aimed at Young, Substance-Using African-American Women

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Abstract

HIV continues to be a major public health problem for African-American (AA) women, and the burden of new cases to our society is significant because each case is at risk of infecting others. Substance use worsens the risk of HIV transmission to AA women. We provide specific recommendations to move the concept of tailoring HIV prevention interventions for substance users forward by focusing on young, sexually active, substance-using AA women and applying a culturally relevant revision to existing theoretical frameworks to include the Sexual Script Theory and the Theory of Gender and Power. We encourage use of these theories to guide adaptation of interventions to demonstrate efficacy within this hard-to-reach population. Consistent use of theories designed to exploit powerlessness and sexual scripts as barriers to adoption of protective sexual behaviors has potential to permeate sexual and substance use networks among African-Americans. This recommendation is being made because this theoretical framework has not been used in HIV prevention interventions targeting young, sexually active, substance-using AA women.

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Acknowledgements

Manuscript conceptualization was supported by a career development award from the American Psychological Association (R25MH83635) and scholarship with the HIV Prevention Trials Network’ Scholars Program (UM1AI068619).

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  1. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA

    Mandy Hill, Misha Granado & Angela Stotts

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  1. Mandy Hill
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Correspondence to Mandy Hill.

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Hill, M., Granado, M. & Stotts, A. Theoretical Implications of Gender, Power, and Sexual Scripts for HIV Prevention Programs Aimed at Young, Substance-Using African-American Women. J. Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities 4, 1175–1180 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-016-0323-z

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