Editors Note: This is the first in a series of posts, in which we will highlight the major accomplishments achieved by CHPIR’s various research and service projects in 2012.

In 2012, Guide to Healing (G2H) completed its third project year while beginning its fourth-year of funding from a five-year HRSA Ryan White SPNS grant, as part of the Enhancing Access for Women of Color Initiative. Through a partnership between Duke University and the Infectious Diseases and the (UNC-CH ID) Clinic at UNC-Chapel Hill, Guide to Healing provides HIV-positive women of color in the UNC-CH ID Clinic with a Nurse Guide that includes a variety of essential services: ongoing support and access to rapid appointments; a women’s support group to increase social support and health literacy; and instrumental support through gas cards and cell phone access.

This year, the CHPIR staff continued to support Guide to Healing by obtaining two more tiers of data collection, consisting of patient-level interviews conducted during a six-month period. This research resulted in four presentations at three different conferences with two manuscripts in preparation as CHPIR staff promotes the achievements of G2H.

Publications and Presentations

Guide to Healing (G2H)

• Messer LC, Quinlivan EB, Parnell H, Roytburd K. “Social networks of HIV-positive women of color, social support and medication adherence.” Poster presentation at the 45th Annual Research Meeting for the Society of Epidemiologic Research. Minneapolis, MN. June 28, 2012.
• Messer LC, Quinlivan EB, Parnell H, Roytburd K, Westreich D. “Childhood trauma and the structure of behavioral sequelae among HIV-infected women of color.” Poster presentation at the 45th Annual Research Meeting for the Society of Epidemiologic Research. Minneapolis, MN. June 28, 2012.
• Berger M, Messer LC, Sulivan K, Quinlivan EB, Parnell H, Rotyburd K. “Disclosure avoidance among HIV-positive women of color in North Carolina: findings from Guide to Healing.” Oral presentation at the North Carolina Public Health Association Annual Educational Conference. New Bern, NC. September 20, 2012.
• Messer LC, Quinlivan EB, Parnell H, Roytburd K. “Childhood trauma and the behavioral and relationship sequelae among HIV-infected women of color.” Poster presentation at the American Public Health Association 140^th Annual Meeting. San Francisco, CA. October 28, 2012.
• Quinlivan EB, Messer LC, Adimora A, Roytburd K, Bowditch N, Parnell H, Seay J, Bell L, Pierce J.  Experiences with HIV testing, entry, and engagement in care by HIV-infected women of color and the need for autonomy, competency and relatedness. Manuscript in process.
• Messer LC, Quinlivan EB, Parnell H, Roytburd K, Adimora A, Bowditch N, DeSousa N. Barriers and facilitators to testing, treatment entry, and engagement in care by HIV-positive women of color. Manuscript in process.