Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Efficacy of an HIV Prevention Intervention for Older Black Women

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether a group-based HIV prevention program can improve HIV knowledge, prevention behaviors, and testing in older Black women aged 50 and older who live in subsidized housing. The study focuses on improving how HIV prevention programs address the unique needs and life experiences of older Black women.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Can a revised HIV prevention intervention tailored to reproductive health histories improve HIV knowledge, condom use, and testing in older Black women?

Is the intervention feasible, acceptable, and engaging for participants?

The PI will compare a group of participants receiving the Woman-2-Woman (W2W) intervention to a wait-listed control group to see if the intervention leads to better HIV prevention outcomes.

Participants will:

Join a group-based HIV prevention program designed for older Black women

Be randomly assigned to either:

Start the intervention right away, or

Join a waitlist and start the program 4 weeks later

Take part in four weekly sessions that include group discussions, education, and skill-building activities

Share information about their reproductive health histories and sexual health decisions during focus groups or surveys

Complete questionnaires at the start, after the program ends, and 4 weeks later to assess HIV knowledge, condom use, and testing behavior

This research aims to create a culturally tailored, evidence-based HIV intervention that fits the lives and needs of older Black women and can be used in future, larger studies.