Assistant Professor Noelle St. Vil publishes study evaluating e-Health HIV prevention interventions for Black heterosexual couples

Congratulations to Assistant Professor Noelle St. Vil and colleagues on the publication of "Perspectives on a Couples-Based, e-Health HIV Prevention Toolkit Intervention: A Qualitative Dyadic Study with Black, Heterosexual Couples in New York State" in Archives of Sexual Behavior.

Leblanc, N. M., Mitchell, J. W., Bond, K. T., Juarez Cuellar, A., Vil, N., & McMahon, J. (2022). Perspectives on a Couples-Based, e-Health HIV Prevention Toolkit Intervention: A Qualitative Dyadic Study with Black, Heterosexual Couples in New York State. Archives of sexual behavior, 10.1007/s10508-021-02270-8.

Web-based technology provides an unparalleled opportunity to increase access and uptake of couples-based HIV prevention interventions. e-Health HIV prevention interventions for U.S. Black heterosexual couples have largely been understudied.

To address this gap, we applied the Assessment Phase of the ADAPT-ITT Framework to investigate Black heterosexual couples' perspectives on an existing e-Health, couples-based HIV prevention intervention. Applying a qualitative descriptive approach, joint dyadic interviews were conducted with 28 Black heterosexual couples from three jurisdictions in New York State. Content dyadic analysis revealed three descriptive categories: perspectives of the toolkit intervention (sub-codes: perceived relevance, reactions to core components), recommendations to enhance intervention relevancy (sub-codes: tailoring to relationship type, adding new content), and lasting intervention considerations (sub-codes: toolkit usability and language use).

Overall, couples found the toolkit intervention content and usability acceptable and reflected on its potential to build sexual and relationship health. Couples recommended to enhance toolkit adaptability for varied couple's motivation and types re-consider terms like sexual agreements, and include content to facilitate communication regarding sensitive topics (e.g., childhood sexual trauma, co-parenting, family planning) and other issues that may have more relevance to the experience of US Black persons (i.e., wealth building).