{"id":903,"date":"2025-01-30T10:30:49","date_gmt":"2025-01-30T15:30:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/srmhdisparities\/?page_id=903"},"modified":"2025-12-03T15:43:15","modified_gmt":"2025-12-03T20:43:15","slug":"our-research","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/srmhdisparities\/about\/our-research\/","title":{"rendered":"Research"},"content":{"rendered":"<table width=\"891\" height=\"57\" border=\"15\" style=\"border: 15px solid #431fb8; border-collapse: collapse; height: 57px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline; color: #000080;\"><strong>Program Mission<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">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.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<div style=\"display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center; background-color: #431fb8; color: white; font-size: 26px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; padding: 15px 30px; border-radius: 5px; text-align: center; width: fit-content; margin: 40px auto;\">Ongoing and Upcoming Projects<\/div>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #333399; text-decoration: underline;\">International Projects:<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>1. Reducing psychological barriers to PrEP persistence among pregnant women in Cape Town, South Africa (NIMH K23MH131438)<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><\/strong><\/span><span style=\"color: #333399;\"><strong><em>PI: Dr. Amelia Stanton<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The aims of this study:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">To explore the ways in which post-traumatic stress and depression impact PrEP use during pregnancy and the postpartum transition<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Develop a brief PrEP adherence and persistence intervention and assess barriers\/facilitators to implementation in antenatal care<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention in a pilot RCT<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\"><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">2. Identifying and addressing barriers to retention in the cervical cancer cascade among women with HIV in South Africa: Part 2 (NCI R21CA279942)<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333399;\"><em><strong>MPIs: Dr. Amelia Stanton, Dr. Christina Psaros<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"im\" style=\"color: #000000;\">The aims of this study:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To examine the factors associated with attrition from the cervical cancer cascade following an abnormal Pap smear result.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The mixed-methods data collected during this study will inform the development of a brief intervention that addresses challenges to attending follow-up visits.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">3. TENDAI4PrEP: Adaptation of a problem-solving intervention to address individual and provider level barriers to PrEP uptake and adherence among pregnant persons in Zimbabwe (<strong>NIMH R34MH134698)<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333399;\"><em><strong>MPIs: Dr. Amelia Stanton, Dr. Conall O\u2019Cleirigh, Dr. Walter Mangezi<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The aims of this study:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">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<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To use the formative data to specify a PrEP uptake, adherence, and persistence intervention based on the TENDAI program<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention in a pilot randomized controlled trial.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">4. Treatment development for smoking cessation, depression, and engagement in HIV\/TB care<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333399;\"><em><strong>PI: Dr. Conall O\u2019Cleirigh, Co-I: Dr. Amelia Stanton<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The aims of this study:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To collect qualitative data that will inform the adaptation of an existing smoking cessation intervention for people with HIV and TB in South Africa<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To specify the intervention manual and conduct a small open trial of the intervention<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To assess the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention in a pilot randomized controlled trial<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #333399; text-decoration: underline;\">Domestic Projects:<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">1. Adapting and testing a sexual function intervention for trans women (eSense TRANScend) (Kenneth H. Mayer Fellowship, funded by the Fenway Institute)<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333399;\"><em><strong>PI: Dr. Amelia Stanton<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The aim of this study:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Adapt the eSense intervention to improve sexual function and genital self-image among transgender women<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">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<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Interested in participating in eSense TRANScend? <span style=\"color: #000080;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/fenwayhealth.org\/studies\/esense\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" style=\"text-align: center; color: #000080;\">Click here to learn more<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">2. Adapting and testing a smoking cessation intervention for transgender and gender expansive individuals (PRIDE QUIT: Promoting Recovery in Diverse Experiences &#8211; Quitting Tobacco)<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333399;\"><em><strong>MPIs: Dr. Conall O\u2019Cleirigh, Dr. Amelia Stanton<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The aim of this study:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Adapt an existing smoking cessation intervention (known as QUIT) for transgender and gender expansive (TGE) populations<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Test the feasibility and acceptability of the adapted intervention<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center; background-color: #333399; color: white; font-size: 26px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; padding: 15px 30px; border-radius: 5px; text-align: center; width: fit-content; margin: 40px auto;\">Completed Projects<\/div>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">1. Mental health barriers to PrEP uptake among pregnant women in South Africa (funded by the Harvard Center for AIDS Research) (NIH\/NIAID 5P30AI060354-17)<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333399;\"><em><strong>PI: Dr. Amelia Stanton<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The aim of this study:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To assess the degree to which psychological challenges are associated with likelihood of PrEP uptake<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To explore mechanisms driving those associations<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>2. Identifying and addressing barriers to retention in the cervical cancer treatment cascade among women with HIV in South Africa <\/strong>(funded by the Prov\/Bos Center for AIDS Research)\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333399;\"><em><strong>PI: Dr. Amelia Stanton<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The aims of this study:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">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<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">To develop a brief patient-level intervention and provider toolkit to increase retention in care among WWH<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To test the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention in an open pilot<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/srmhdisparities\/news\/\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/srmhdisparities\/files\/2023\/01\/SRM_Logo_FullText_Blue-636x131.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-431 alignleft\" width=\"418\" height=\"86\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/srmhdisparities\/files\/2023\/01\/SRM_Logo_FullText_Blue-636x131.png 636w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/srmhdisparities\/files\/2023\/01\/SRM_Logo_FullText_Blue-768x159.png 768w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/srmhdisparities\/files\/2023\/01\/SRM_Logo_FullText_Blue-810x168.png 810w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/srmhdisparities\/files\/2023\/01\/SRM_Logo_FullText_Blue.png 813w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 418px) 100vw, 418px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/the-sexual-reproductive-and-mental-health-disparities-program\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/srmhdisparities\/files\/2024\/09\/LinkedIn_logo_initials-636x636.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"76\" height=\"76\" class=\"alignright wp-image-780\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/srmhdisparities\/files\/2024\/09\/LinkedIn_logo_initials-636x636.png 636w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/srmhdisparities\/files\/2024\/09\/LinkedIn_logo_initials.png 1024w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/srmhdisparities\/files\/2024\/09\/LinkedIn_logo_initials-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/srmhdisparities\/files\/2024\/09\/LinkedIn_logo_initials-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/srmhdisparities\/files\/2024\/09\/LinkedIn_logo_initials-550x550.png 550w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/srmhdisparities\/files\/2024\/09\/LinkedIn_logo_initials-710x710.png 710w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/srmhdisparities\/files\/2024\/09\/LinkedIn_logo_initials-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/srmhdisparities\/files\/2024\/09\/LinkedIn_logo_initials-600x600.png 600w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/srmhdisparities\/files\/2024\/09\/LinkedIn_logo_initials-100x100.png 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 76px) 100vw, 76px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/srm_bu\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/srmhdisparities\/files\/2024\/06\/IMG_7875-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"80\" height=\"80\" class=\"alignright wp-image-703\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/srmhdisparities\/files\/2024\/06\/IMG_7875-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/srmhdisparities\/files\/2024\/06\/IMG_7875-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/srmhdisparities\/files\/2024\/06\/IMG_7875-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 80px) 100vw, 80px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/bu.srm?igsh=c2JpYnJkeDVpamQ5\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/srmhdisparities\/files\/2024\/06\/IMG_7877-2-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"82\" height=\"82\" class=\"alignright wp-image-705\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/srmhdisparities\/files\/2024\/06\/IMG_7877-2-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/srmhdisparities\/files\/2024\/06\/IMG_7877-2-1092x1080.jpg 1092w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/srmhdisparities\/files\/2024\/06\/IMG_7877-2-550x550.jpg 550w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/srmhdisparities\/files\/2024\/06\/IMG_7877-2-710x710.jpg 710w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/srmhdisparities\/files\/2024\/06\/IMG_7877-2-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/srmhdisparities\/files\/2024\/06\/IMG_7877-2-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/srmhdisparities\/files\/2024\/06\/IMG_7877-2-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 82px) 100vw, 82px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24314,"featured_media":0,"parent":15,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/no-sidebars.php","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/srmhdisparities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/903"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/srmhdisparities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/srmhdisparities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/srmhdisparities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24314"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/srmhdisparities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=903"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/srmhdisparities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/903\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1157,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/srmhdisparities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/903\/revisions\/1157"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/srmhdisparities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/srmhdisparities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=903"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}