Research

Program Mission

The Sexual, Reproductive, and Mental (SRM) Health Disparities Program in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Boston University focuses on the intersection of sexual, reproductive, and mental health in minoritized and marginalized populations, both domestically and internationally. We aim to (1) identify psychological barriers to optimal sexual and reproductive health and (2) develop psychosocial interventions that mitigate the influence of these barriers among populations at risk for poor sexual and reproductive health. We seek to continue and grow our collaborations with international and local research teams to ultimately implement these interventions on a large scale.  

 

Ongoing and Upcoming Projects

International Projects:

Reducing psychological barriers to PrEP persistence among pregnant women in Cape Town, South Africa (NIMH K23MH131438)

PI: Dr. Amelia Stanton

The aims of this study:

  1. To explore the ways in which post-traumatic stress and depression impact PrEP use during pregnancy and the postpartum transition
  2. Develop a brief PrEP adherence and persistence intervention and assess barriers/facilitators to implementation in antenatal care
  3. Evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention in a pilot RCT

Identifying and addressing barriers to retention in the cervical cancer treatment cascade among women with HIV in South Africa (funded by the Prov/Bos Center for AIDS Research) 

PI: Dr. Amelia Stanton

The aims of this study:

  1. To explore the barriers and facilitators to follow-up appointment attendance and subsequent treatment among women with HIV (WWH) with a recent high-risk abnormal pap smear in Durban, South Africa
  2. To develop a brief patient-level intervention and provider toolkit to increase retention in care among WWH
  3. To test the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention in an open pilot

Identifying and addressing barriers to retention in the cervical cancer cascade among women with HIV in South Africa: Part 2 (NCI R21CA279942)

MPIs: Dr. Amelia Stanton, Dr. Christina Psaros

The aims of this study:

  1. To examine the factors associated with attrition from the cervical cancer cascade following an abnormal Pap smear result.
  2. The mixed-methods data collected during this study will inform the development of a brief intervention that addresses challenges to attending follow-up visits.

TENDAI4PrEP: Adaptation of a problem-solving intervention to address individual and provider level barriers to PrEP uptake and adherence among pregnant persons in Zimbabwe (NIMH R34MH134698)

MPIs: Dr. Amelia Stanton, Dr. Conall O’Cleirigh, Dr. Walter Mangezi

The aims of this study:

  1. To explore the impact of intersecting barriers to PrEP uptake, adherence, and persistence among pregnant persons as well as barriers to the provision of PrEP among antenatal care providers
  2. To use the formative data to specify a PrEP uptake, adherence, and persistence intervention based on the TENDAI program
  3. To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention in a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Treatment development for smoking cessation, depression, and engagement in HIV/TB care

PI: Dr. Conall O’Cleirigh, Co-I: Dr. Amelia Stanton

The aims of this study:

  1. To collect qualitative data that will inform the adaptation of an existing smoking cessation intervention for people with HIV and TB in South Africa
  2. To specify the intervention manual and conduct a small open trial of the intervention
  3. To assess the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention in a pilot randomized controlled trial

 

Domestic Projects:

Adapting and testing a sexual function intervention for trans women (eSense TRANScend) (Kenneth H. Mayer Fellowship, funded by the Fenway Institute)

PI: Dr. Amelia Stanton

The aim of this study:

  1. Adapt the eSense intervention to improve sexual function and genital self-image among transgender women
  2. The intervention consists of an online interactive program (the eSense website); participants receive either the cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or the mindfulness-based therapy (MBT) arm

Adapting and testing a smoking cessation intervention for transgender and gender expansive individuals (PRIDE QUIT: Promoting Recovery in Diverse Experiences – Quitting Tobacco)

MPIs: Dr. Conall O’Cleirigh, Dr. Amelia Stanton

The aim of this study:

  1. Adapt an existing smoking cessation intervention (known as QUIT) for transgender and gender expansive (TGE) populations
  2. Test the feasibility and acceptability of the adapted intervention

 

Completed Projects:

Mental health barriers to PrEP uptake among pregnant women in South Africa (funded by the Harvard Center for AIDS Research) (NIH/NIAID 5P30AI060354-17)

PI: Dr. Amelia Stanton

The aim of this study:

  1. To assess the degree to which psychological challenges are associated with likelihood of PrEP uptake
  2. To explore mechanisms driving those associations

Interested in participating? Click here to learn more

Meet our Research Team                                                     Meet our Collaborators