American Women: Assessing Risk Epidemiologically (AWARE)

About the Study

Purpose

Build knowledgebase of integrated data including data from an epidemiologic cohort of women, disease surveillance, social determinants of health, and network data.

Study Design

Use innovative electronic methods to recruit a large racially diverse sample (N=1800) of high-risk women (14-54 years) at high risk of HIV acquisition and examine geospatial factors (e.g., neighborhood poverty, crime rate, proximity to healthcare services) to understand differences in HIV risk behaviors and incidence, across geographic areas in the US and its territories.

Procedures for Participants

In this remote study, participants will meet on Zoom with study staff to complete an online survey and self-collect a blood and vaginal swab sample for HIV and STI testing every 6 months for 2 years.

For Participants 

• The procedures in this study are to self-collect samples that will be tested for HIV and STIs and complete an online survey every 6 months.
• You will be asked to complete a baseline study visit via video-conferencing (Zoom) for 2 hours with a member of the study team. During this baseline visit, you will:
  • Complete a survey online that includes questions about demographic characteristics, health literacy, mental health and substance use, sexual risk behaviors, HIV testing history, and opinions regarding HIV testing.
  • Self-collect a blood sample for HIV and syphilis testing and a vaginal swab for chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomonas testing with the guidance of study staff. You will be instructed to mail samples to our lab partners for analysis.
• After the baseline visit, study staff will contact you every 6 months to schedule their next follow-up visit.
• If you are:
  • between 14 and 54 years of age 
  • female sex assigned at birth and identify as female; 
  • understand and read English or Spanish; 
  • live within U.S. and its territories; 
  • HIV-negative or don’t know your HIV status,
• Then please screener and fill out our screener survey to see if you’re eligible!

For Participants (In Spanish)

• Los procedimientos en este estudio son auto-recolectar muestras que serán analizadas para el VIH e infecciones de transmisión sexual  ITS, y completar una encuesta en línea cada 6 meses.
• Se le pedirá que complete una visita inicial del estudio a través de videoconferencia (Zoom) durante 2 horas con un miembro del equipo del estudio. Durante esta visita, usted:
  • Completará una encuesta en línea que incluye preguntas sobre características demográficas, alfabetización en salud, salud mental y uso de sustancias, comportamientos sexuales de riesgo, historial de pruebas de VIH y opiniones sobre las pruebas de VIH.
  • Auto-recolectará una muestra de sangre para la prueba del VIH y sífilis y un hisopo vaginal para la prueba de clamidia, gonorrea y tricomonas con la guía del personal del estudio. Se le indicará que envíe las muestras por correo a un laboratorio asociado a nuestro estudio  para su análisis. Este kit incluirá instrucciones de uso y devolución.
• Después de la visita inicial, el personal del estudio se pondrá en contacto con usted cada 6 meses para programar la siguiente visita.
• Es elegible para participar si usted es:
  • entre 14 y 54 años de edad;
  • sexo femenino asignado al nacer y se identifica como mujer;
  • entiende y lee inglés o español;
  • vive en EE.UU. y sus territorios;
  • es VIH negativoo no conoce su estado serológico respecto al VIH.
• Haga clic en el enlace a nuestro formulario de selección y rellénelo para ver si cumple los requisitos!
  • Enlace de encuesta.

For Researchers 

Addressing the End the HIV Epidemic initiatives, this study will 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 high-risk women 14-54 years of age to better understand correlates of HIV-related sexual risk and HIV incidence within the context of a theoretically-grounded social ecological framework.

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