Adverse Childhood Experiences are highly associated with the development of sexually transmitted infections (Felitti, 1998). People who have experienced just one ACE have a 1.4 odds ratio of having an STI in their lifetime. Whereas those who have 4 or more ACEs have a 2.5 odds ratio (Felitti, 1998).
The state of Georgia is not legally required to teach medically accurate sexual health education. In essence, compounding the existing problem of their high HIV incidence.
This intervention aims to mediate that gap in sexual health education by utilizing a trauma-informed approach to reduce the incidence of HIV among GSU students by providing resources to newly diagnosed HIV infected students as well as teach students how to engage in sex with scientifically proven safe and effective ways.
The Public Health framework utilized in this intervention includes trauma-informed principles as well as components of community-based participatory research (CBPR).
CBPR is grounded by its 9 key principles (Catalanotto, 2020). This intervention directly aligns with 5 of the 9 principles. (1) The GSU community is innately recognized as a unique identity, as reflected in the inception of the intervention, selection of the instructors and staff. (2) The goal of this intervention is to build on community resources, this is displayed by collaboration with various community partners at Out of the Closet testing facility. (3) The intervention is mutually beneficial being that adaptation of the health behaviors taught in this course can significantly reduce negative health outcomes for participants, and those conducting the intervention can use these results for further studies and grant funding. (4) The concern for high HIV incidence is addressed in a positive and ecological nature (Catalanotto, 2020). This is accomplished by addressing how HIV is transmitted while referencing the social determinates and the larger systems or risk factors that include where participants live, learn, work and play (Catalanotto, 2020). (5) Lastly, a long-term commitment is established through the intervention’s sustainability efforts outlined in later sections.
This intervention will utilize the latest version of the CDC Social-Ecological Model (2020) as its framework. This intervention will address multiple levels of the CDC Social Ecological Model. This intervention will specifically focus on the individual, relationship as well as community levels. The individual level will be addressed via HIV testing, building on individual students’ skills regarding healthy communication as well as sexual barrier methods. The relationship level will be addressed through various facilitated team building activities, career-building workshops, interactive games, and recreational activities. Lastly, the community level will be through the fostering a community identity among freshmen at GSU. being that the intervention is being conducted amongst all freshman students at GSU.
To review the full grant proposal please see the attached dociment.
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