Sitara M Weerakoon, PhD, MPH
Associate Research Scientist in Public Health (Social and Behavioral Sciences)Cards
About
Research
Publications
2024
A Nationally Representative Analysis of Substance Use and Sexual Health Correlates Associated with HIV and STI Testing among Adolescents
Weerakoon S, Srikanth N, Aivadyan C, Takenaka B, Rose R, Rutledge J, Wan X, Opara I. A Nationally Representative Analysis of Substance Use and Sexual Health Correlates Associated with HIV and STI Testing among Adolescents. AIDS And Behavior 2024, 1-14. PMID: 39661294, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-024-04575-w.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchOdds of HIVSTI testingYouth Risk Behavior Surveillance SystemIncreased odds of HIVSexual healthIncreased oddsCDC's Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance SystemOdds of HIV testingStepwise multivariate logistic regression modelsSubstance use behaviorsLifetime cocaine useSubstance useMultivariate logistic regression modelNationally representative analysisBehavior Surveillance SystemLogistic regression modelsPrescription drug misuseHIV/STI testingTailored HIVHIV testingSex of sexual partnersUnited StatesCocaine useHealth correlatesTesting servicesApplying a community‐engaged participatory machine learning model
Asabor E, Aneni K, Weerakoon S, Opara I. Applying a community‐engaged participatory machine learning model. American Journal Of Community Psychology 2024 PMID: 39279135, DOI: 10.1002/ajcp.12765.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHealth researchCommunity psychologistsPublic health researchExperiences of peopleStructural humilityHealth inequalitiesHealth careCommunity stakeholdersPriority settingMachine learning techniquesTarget populationCommunity contextHealthLived experienceImprove outcomesCommunity insightsLearning techniquesProblem formationPsychologistsPositive membersStage of machine learningMachine learning researchCommunityDecision-makingCareRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INCREASED POLYSUBSTANCE USE, ANXIETY, AND STRESS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: RESULTS FROM THE COVID-19 CANNABIS HEALTH STUDY
Weerakoon S, Diggs B, Messiah S, Weiner M, Vidot D. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INCREASED POLYSUBSTANCE USE, ANXIETY, AND STRESS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: RESULTS FROM THE COVID-19 CANNABIS HEALTH STUDY. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2024, 260: 110077. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.110077.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchT129 Prevalence of Psilocybin and Cannabis Concurrent Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Analysis of the COVID-19 Cannabis Health Study
Vidot D, Baral A, Diggs B, Weerakoon S, Baquai M, Iyi R, Weiner M, Messiah S. T129 Prevalence of Psilocybin and Cannabis Concurrent Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Analysis of the COVID-19 Cannabis Health Study. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2024, 260: 110578. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.110578.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchS11 Cannabis Use and Mental Health Coping Behavior Among Minority Women During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results From the COVID-19 Cannabis Health Study
Diggs B, Fellah R, Lebron C, Weerakoon S, Messiah S, Vidot D. S11 Cannabis Use and Mental Health Coping Behavior Among Minority Women During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results From the COVID-19 Cannabis Health Study. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2024, 260: 110122. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.110122.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchT126 High Blood Pressure Among Psilocybin and Cannabis Consumers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Analysis of the COVID-19 Cannabis Health Study
Vidot D, Diggs B, Baral A, Larson M, Weerakoon S, Baquai M, Iyi R, Weiner M, Camacho-Rivera M, Messiah S. T126 High Blood Pressure Among Psilocybin and Cannabis Consumers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Analysis of the COVID-19 Cannabis Health Study. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2024, 260: 110575. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.110575.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchA Qualitative Exploration on Risk and Protective Factors of Substance Use Among Black Adolescent Girls
Opara I, Brooks-Stephens J, Aneni K, Asabor E, Weerakoon S, Duran-Becerra B. A Qualitative Exploration on Risk and Protective Factors of Substance Use Among Black Adolescent Girls. Journal Of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology 2024, ahead-of-print: 1-14. PMID: 38748661, DOI: 10.1080/15374416.2024.2344171.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchBlack adolescent girlsSubstance useAdolescent girlsFactors of substance useProtective factorsAbuse prevention programsSubstance abuse prevention programsPrevention programsEcological systems theoretical frameworkSystems theoretical frameworkParticipants' narrativesLived experienceGender-specificSocial environmentDrug useUnique risk factorsCoping mechanismsQualitative explorationFocus groupsThematic analysisTheoretical frameworkStudy findingsIntervention developmentSub-themesGirls
2023
Assessing the Prevalence Rates of Internalizing Symptomatology Among Multiracial Adolescents in the United States: A Systematic Review
Henson-García M, Weerakoon S, Duncan C, Choe T, Opara I, A. Baker K, L. Sterling K, Messiah S. Assessing the Prevalence Rates of Internalizing Symptomatology Among Multiracial Adolescents in the United States: A Systematic Review. Child Psychiatry & Human Development 2023, 1-14. PMID: 38042957, DOI: 10.1007/s10578-023-01636-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchInternalizing symptomsMultiracial adolescentsPrevalence of anxiety symptomsInternalizing symptomatologyAnxiety symptomsDepressive symptomatologySymptomatologyPrevalence estimatesMethodological inconsistenciesAdolescentsSystematic reviewSymptomsPrevalence ratesPeer-reviewed studiesAPA PsycInfoOvid MEDLINEComprehensive searchPrevalenceStudy selectionUnited StatesEpidemiological researchRelationship between suicide ideation and attempts, bully victimization, dating violence, and depressive symptoms among Black and Hispanic youth
Opara I, Weerakoon S, Stephens J, Choe T, Gunn J, Thrasher S. Relationship between suicide ideation and attempts, bully victimization, dating violence, and depressive symptoms among Black and Hispanic youth. Suicide And Life-Threatening Behavior 2023 PMID: 37933468, PMCID: PMC11074240, DOI: 10.1111/sltb.13015.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPersistent symptoms and conditions among children and adolescents hospitalised with COVID-19 illness: a qualitative study
Messiah S, Francis J, Weerakoon S, Mathew M, Shaikh S, Veeraswamy A, Lozano A, He W, Xie L, Polavarapu D, Ahmed N, Kahn J. Persistent symptoms and conditions among children and adolescents hospitalised with COVID-19 illness: a qualitative study. BMJ Open 2023, 13: e069073. PMID: 37734886, PMCID: PMC10514629, DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-069073.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCOVID-19 illnessIn-depth interviewsQualitative studyPaediatric healthcare systemHealth information sourcesLack of insurance coverageMental health impactsPrevalence of long COVIDPersistent symptomsPost-COVID-19 symptomsPost-traumatic stress disorderPersistent COVID-19 symptomsHealthcare systemCOVID-19 experiencePre-existing conditionsQualitative interviewsInsurance coverageCOVID-19Support strategiesWorsening pre-existing conditionsHealth impactsIllnessSupport systemInterviewsLong COVID