Infección de Amor (Love Infection): Online Delivery and Pilot Testing of a Dramatized Story Intervention (Telenovela/Soap Opera) for HIV Prevention Among Latinas in North Carolina

Detailed Summary

Purpose: To test the feasibility, acceptability of the IA intervention (four telenovela episodes), assessment of the mechanisms of action (self-efficacy, narrative engagement, and emotional elicitation) and conduct a randomized controlled pilot study to examine the change in primary outcomes (condom use, HIV testing, Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) awareness and use) and secondary outcomes (Substance abuse (SA), intimate partner violence (IPV), and depression comparing 33 intervention- and 33 control Latinas at baseline (T1, pre-intervention), T2 (immediately post-intervention, 1 month) and T3 (3 months after the end of the intervention, with no intervening contact with study staff). Participants: 66 Latinas ages 18-44 years who report sexual activity with a man in the last 6 months, have internet access from any device, and reside in NC. Procedures (methods): Participants will be asked to: (1) receive an orientation about the use of the Infección de Amor (IA) telenovela website and access the telenovela website once a week for 4 weeks to watch a telenovela episode and answer some questions about the episode (half hour each week, 2 in total), (2) attend to a one hour-meeting with the research team to complete a baseline survey, (3) complete a survey (on their own) one-month after the baseline survey, and (4) complete another survey (on their own) 4-months after the baseline survey. Participants will complete a structured survey in the first meeting (baseline survey) with a member of the research team and then they will complete the follow-up surveys (1-month and 4-months after baseline) on their own. Participants can request help to complete these surveys with the help of the research team (online using Zoom or face to face if needed). The moment that participants will access the IA intervention will depend on the group to be assigned by the research team (intervention or control group).

Study Details

Timeline

Interventions