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HOPE

HOPE

Project Details

Description

More than 19 million new cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) occur each year; almost half occur in teens and young adults. Behaviors such as not using a condom or having several partners may increase the risk of getting an STI.  Reaching young adults with prevention education and testing may reduce the spread of STIs and create healthy sexual behaviors that are maintained lifelong.

In Flint, Michigan, the rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) for African American residents aged 18-24 are among the highest in the state.  Compared to European Americans, African Americans are 6-7 times more likely to contract Chlamydia and 10-12 times more likely to have Gonorrhea.  Further, the prevalence of HIV is 7 times higher among African Americans.

In response to these disparities, the PRC/MI Genesee County Community Board identified HIV and STIs as a high priority in the community and worked together to develop the HOPE project. The HOPE project aims to reduce STIs and HIV/AIDS in Genesee County through a peer education and social technology intervention. The specific aim is to test the effects of integrating technology into an evidence-based prevention program for STIs, including HIV, among 18-24 year olds.  HOPE is the core research project of the Prevention Research Center of Michigan.

The HOPE project has two components: 1) home-based peer-led HIV/STI education parties and 2) an online intervention website and social media campaign.  HOPE Parties, first developed by YOUR Center in 2001, are led by peer health educators trained in STI/HIV education and offer participants the opportunity to learn about HIV/STI prevention, assess their risk, participate in HIV/STI testing, develop a safer sex behavior plan, and practice communication and decision-making skills.

The HOPE party intervention in Genesee County adds a social technology component in which participants are invited to explore and interactive website developed by the researchers that features blogs, a discussion forum, sexual health videos, links to other social networking sites, and information about local resources. The online community is intended to expand educational opportunities, enhance peer mentoring, and establish an online source for information and support.

The HOPE parties in Genesee County are being led and coordinated by staff at YOUR Center in Flint. The Saginaw County Department of Public Health is coordinating the HOPE parties in Saginaw County.

Journal Articles

Veinot, T. C., Campbell, T. R., Kruger, D. J., & Grodzinski, A. (2013). A question of trust: user-centered design requirements for an informatics intervention to promote the sexual health of African-American youth. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association: JAMIA, 20(4), 758–765. https://doi.org/10.1136/amiajnl-2012-001361
Kimmel, A., Williams, T. T., Veinot, T. C., Campbell, B., Campbell, T. R., Valacak, M., & Kruger, D. J. (2013). “I make sure I am safe and I make sure I have myself in every way possible”: African-American youth perspectives on sexuality education. Sex Educ, 13(2), 172–185. https://doi.org/10.1080/14681811.2012.709840
Veinot, T. C., Campbell, T. R., Kruger, D., Grodzinski, A., & Franzen, S. (2011). Drama and danger: the opportunities and challenges of promoting youth sexual health through online social networks. AMIA ... Annual Symposium Proceedings / AMIA Symposium. AMIA Symposium, 2011, 1436–1445.

Presentations

Reischl, T., Bland, L. B., Campbell, B., Grodzinski, A., Franzen, S., Morrel-Samuels, S., Simon, T., & Zimmerman, M. A. (2014, November). HIV/STI Outreach, Prevention and Education (HOPE): Effects on Healthy Sexuality Knowledge, perceived norms, efficacy and behavior.
Campbell, T., Veinot, T., & Grodzinski, A. (2014, November). Trust and engagement in an online social networking intervention focused on enhancing HIV/STD resilience among African American youth [Poster]. American Medical Informatics Association Conference, Washington, D.C.
Grodzinski, A., Turner, A., Hawkins, B., Morrel-Samuels, S., Campbell, B., Campbell, T., Veinot, T., & Zimmerman, M. A. (2013, November). Implementing a social media marketing strategy to engage African American young adults in an online intervention to prevent HIV and sexually transmitted infections. Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association, Boston, MA.
Turner, A., Hawkins, B., Grodzinski, A., Campbell, T., Morrel-Samuels, S., Campbell, B., & Zimmerman, M. (2013, March). Using social media to engage young adults in an online intervention to prevent HIV/STIs [Poster]. 5th Annual Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research (MICHR) Community Engagement Conference, Ann Arbor, MI. http://prc.sph.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/HOPE_Poster-michr-2013-final.pdf
Johnson, P., Okungbowa-Ikponmwosa, J., Roberts, S., Santee, E., Franzen, S., Campbell, B., & Campbell, T. (2013, February). Promoting healthy sexual education through HOPE (HIV/STI Outreach, Prevention, and Education) Parties: A community based initiative process evaluation. 5th Annual Minority Health in the Midwest Conference, Chicago, IL.
Campbell, B., & Morrel-Samuels, S. (2012, March). HOPE Project: A Community Based Intervention to Prevent HIV and STIs in young adults [Keynote]. Great Lakes Chapter – Society for Public Health Education Annual Conference, Bay City, MI.
Grodzinski, A., Morrel-Samuels, S., Franzen, S., Campbell, T., Campbell, B., & Zimmerman, M. A. (2011, November). Lessons learned in planning and implementing an Internet-based intervention to prevent sexually transmitted infections among African-American young adults. [Paper]. Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association, Washington, DC.
Grodzinski, A., Campbell, B., Morrel-Samuels, S., & Zimmerman, M. A. (2011, April). Lessons Learned in Developing and Implementing an e-intervention for  STD prevention and education [Paper]. PRC Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA.
Campbell, T., Kimmel, A., & Kruger, D. (2011, Ocotober). Youth definitions of healthy sexuality: Implications for social technology use [Poster]. Annual National Outreach Scholarship Conference, East Lansing, MI.
Grodzinski, A., Morrel-Samuels, S., & Campbell, T. (2010, October 27). Lessons Learned in Creating an E-intervention to Prevent HIV and STDs. Michigan Premier Public Health Conference, Bay City, MI.
  • Last Updated: May 12, 2022
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About

The Prevention Research Collaborative, based at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, is made up of the Prevention Research Center of Michigan, Michigan Youth Violence Prevention Center, National Center for School Safety, and affiliated initiatives. Our Centers are funded through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Department of Justice (DOJ). 

We promote safe and healthy futures through prevention research, training, and outreach. Alongside community partners, we work to reduce inequities and empower communities for better health.

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Address:
1415 Washington Heights
Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Email: contactprc@umich.edu
Phone: (734) 763-1989

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