HELPING HIGH-RISK WOMEN
Project DYNA explores minority health issues
When it comes to health and wellness, Hispanic
women are among the most vulnerable populations
in the Western Hemisphere.They are
especially at risk in the areas of substance abuse, violence,
and sexual practices, according to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
To understand why and identify effective interventions,
School of Nursing and Health Studies Dean Nilda Peragallo,
Elias Vasquez, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.A.N., F.A.A.N.P., associate dean
for community affairs, and faculty member Rosa Gonzalez,
R.N., M.S.N., M.P.H., have launched Estudio DYVA-Drogas
y Violencia en las Americas (Project DYVA-Drugs and Violence
in the Americas).The study examines substance abuse,
interpersonal violence, and risky sexual behaviors among
Hispanic women in Miami-Dade County as part of a major,
multisite study funded by the Inter-American Drug Abuse
Control Commission, a division of the Office of American
States (OAS).
"We hope to gain an understanding of the socioeconomic,
cultural, behavioral, and environmental factors associated
with the incidence of these high-risk practices among
this population," says Gonzalez, who's pursuing her doctorate.
"Doing so will enable us to develop culturally appropriate primary
prevention interventions that target Hispanic women."
Estudio DYVA forms part of an international research
collaboration with partners from Argentina, Brazil, Chile,
Costa Rica, Honduras, and Venezuela.The School of Nursing
and Health Studies is collecting data for the United States.
Findings from the first phase of the study will be evaluated
in a cross-country comparison during phase two. In the
United States, the study supports the national initiative
Healthy People 2010 and the goal to eliminate health disparities
among minority populations.
"Learning more about why Hispanic women engage in
risky behaviors will assist nurses and other health professionals
to provide effective, culturally competent care," says
Peragallo, an internationally recognized researcher on
HIV/AIDS in Latino women. "This knowledge will also help
nurse educators in teaching students to develop individual
and population-based interventions targeted toward the
needs of this group."
According to Gonzalez, Miami has a higher incidence of
substance abuse, violence, and sexually transmitted diseases
than other counties in Florida and the U.S.The problem is
magnified among women in the Hispanic community.
"Although we will be looking at Hispanic women living
in Miami, we anticipate that our findings may be applicable
to similar Hispanic groups across the country and in other
countries," she says."Our study is just a beginning to
understanding why they're disproportionately affected by
these health issues and what we can do to address the
problem."
