Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #117222

Dionne Jones, PhD, MSW, Division of Epidemiology, Services & Prevention Research, National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 6001 Executive Boulevard, 5th Floor, Bethesda, MD 20892, 301-402-1984, dj99r@nih.gov, M. Isabel Fernandez, PhD, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, 3200 South University Drive, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33328, Murelle G. Harrison, PhD, Department of Psychology, Southern University, 317 Blanks Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70813, Clyde B. McCoy, PhD, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami, 1801 NW 9th Ave (D-93), Miami, FL 33136, and Jessy G. Dévieux, PhD, Robert Stempel School of Public Health/ AIDS Prevention Program, Florida International University, 3000 N.E. 151 Street, ACI-260, North Miami, FL 33181.

Social structure inequalities are a major factor in health disparities. Drug use, a result of social inequities, continues to be a major problem in society. Minorities are disproportionately affected by the consequences of drug use, including criminal justice involvement, economic deprivation, and deleterious health conditions. The reduction or elimination of health disparities remains a major public health challenge. Recent work suggests the need to develop and test new models, particularly models incorporating social contextual factors that create a framework for eliminating health disparities. There is a need for competent, culturally-sensitive investigators to contribute to research designed to eliminate health disparities. The first presentation compares two strategies for recruiting Hispanic men who have sex with men (HMSM) to gather data to develop an intervention to reduce club drug use and risky behaviors among HMSM, thereby reducing health disparities. The second presentation shows how factors (such as poverty) related to substance use, academic failure, and related issues in rural communities perpetuate health disparities. Findings from an intervention for rural African American adolescents that involved parents and families in its development are presented. The third presentation analyzes results from two interventions designed to reduce high-risk sexual behavior among active drug users. Public health models for chronic drug users are discussed. The final presentation identifies mediators and moderators of risky sexual and drug use behavior among high-risk minority populations. Culture-specific interventions are described. Culturally-sensitive interventions are indispensable in health disparities research.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant (learner) will be able to

• Describe the impact of health disparities on drug-using racial/ethnic minority populations.
• Identify culture-specific interventions used with drug-using racial/ethnic minority populations. 3. Describe models and strategies that guide interventions with racial/ethnic minority populations.

Keywords: Drug Use, Sexual Risk Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation