2023
Sexual Health and Drug Use Prevention for Black Girls (The Dreamer Girls Project): Protocol for an Intervention Development
Opara I, Gabriel C, Duran-Becerra B, Bond K, Hill A, Hussett-Richardson S, Alves C, Kershaw T. Sexual Health and Drug Use Prevention for Black Girls (The Dreamer Girls Project): Protocol for an Intervention Development. JMIR Research Protocols 2023, 12: e45007. PMID: 37556188, PMCID: PMC10448282, DOI: 10.2196/45007.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchINTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIERSexual risk behaviorsSexual healthDrug useAim 1Protective factorsAim 3Risk behaviorsAim 2HIV/STI preventionSubstance useIntervention developmentTarget sample sizeWorse health outcomesDrug use preventionADAPT-ITT frameworkYouth advisory boardMisuse drugsSTI preventionInfection diagnosisHealth outcomesUse preventionBlack girlsEducation interventionAdvisory BoardAddressing Gendered Racism Against Black Girls Using a Strengths-Based Empowerment-Intersectional Framework for Sexual Health and Substance Use Prevention Programming
Opara I, Martin R, Hill A, Calhoun A. Addressing Gendered Racism Against Black Girls Using a Strengths-Based Empowerment-Intersectional Framework for Sexual Health and Substance Use Prevention Programming. Health Promotion Practice 2023, 24: 617-622. PMID: 37166152, PMCID: PMC11161910, DOI: 10.1177/15248399231171145.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHealth outcomesSexual healthSubstance use prevention programmingSubstance useHealth promotion effortsWorse health outcomesSexual risk behaviorsPrevention programmingQuality health careTreatment optionsHealth promotionRisk behaviorsBlack girlsProtective factorsCritical mediatorHealth carePromotion efforts
2022
A Systematic Review on Sexual Health and Drug Use Prevention Interventions for Black Girls
Opara I, Pierre K, Assan M, Scheinfeld L, Alves C, Cross K, Lizarraga A, Brawner B. A Systematic Review on Sexual Health and Drug Use Prevention Interventions for Black Girls. International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health 2022, 19: 3176. PMID: 35328864, PMCID: PMC8950684, DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19063176.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPoor sexual health outcomesSexual health outcomesHealth outcomesDrug useSexual healthSystematic reviewEarly pregnancySearch criteriaPrevention interventionsUnwanted pregnancyBlack girlsAdolescent femalesAdolescent girlsInterventionOutcomesHIVPregnancyHigh ratePrevention researchersGirlsBlack adolescent femalesReviewHealthInfectionLarge sample
2021
Reframing Sexual Health for Black Girls and Women in HIV/STI Prevention Work: Highlighting the Role of Identity and Interpersonal Relationships
Opara I, Abrams JA, Cross K, Amutah-Onukagha N. Reframing Sexual Health for Black Girls and Women in HIV/STI Prevention Work: Highlighting the Role of Identity and Interpersonal Relationships. International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health 2021, 18: 12088. PMID: 34831855, PMCID: PMC8621381, DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182212088.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTeaching Note—#BlackGirlsMatter and the Social Work Curriculum: Integrating Intersectionality Within Social Work Education
Opara I, Brown T. Teaching Note—#BlackGirlsMatter and the Social Work Curriculum: Integrating Intersectionality Within Social Work Education. Journal Of Social Work Education 2021, 59: 263-269. PMID: 36874948, PMCID: PMC9983732, DOI: 10.1080/10437797.2021.1985026.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSocial work curriculumSocial work studentsWork studentsBlack girlsSocial work classroomSocial work educationSocial work professionEthnic minority girlsContext of powerStudent reflectionsWork educationWork professionGuest speakersSocial locationIntersectionality lensSocial justiceEducational videoCurriculumQualitative researchStudentsMinority girlsTeaching notesTriple jeopardyIntersectionalityCase studySociopolitical control as a mediator between ethnic identity and social support on 30-day drug use among black girls
Opara I, Hill A, Calhoun A, Francois M, Alves C, Garcia-Reid P, Reid R. Sociopolitical control as a mediator between ethnic identity and social support on 30-day drug use among black girls. Journal Of Ethnicity In Substance Abuse 2021, 22: 606-625. PMID: 34533434, PMCID: PMC8926931, DOI: 10.1080/15332640.2021.1975007.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTesting the factor structure of the brief sense of community scale among black girls and the relationship with ethnic identity, empowerment and social support
Opara I, Lardier D, Garcia-Reid P, Reid R. Testing the factor structure of the brief sense of community scale among black girls and the relationship with ethnic identity, empowerment and social support. Children And Youth Services Review 2021, 127: 106095. PMID: 34305217, PMCID: PMC8294162, DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2021.106095.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchIntrapersonal psychological empowermentPsychological empowermentConfirmatory factor analysisPsychological SOCSocial supportBrief SenseEthnic identityFactor structureSecond-order factor structureBlack girlsFive-factor modelPsychological senseFactor analysisRelated variablesGirlsSupportEmpowermentSenseIdentityBSCSRegression-based approachCommunity scaleScaleMeasuresFindings
2020
Measuring Intrapersonal Psychological Empowerment and Ethnic Identity: Highlighting Strengths of Urban Black Girls
Opara I, Lardier D, Garcia-Reid P, Reid R. Measuring Intrapersonal Psychological Empowerment and Ethnic Identity: Highlighting Strengths of Urban Black Girls. Youth & Society 2020, 54: 573-592. PMID: 35813075, PMCID: PMC9269979, DOI: 10.1177/0044118x20970226.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchIntrapersonal psychological empowermentPsychological empowermentStructural equation modelingEthnic identityFactor structureBlack girlsSociopolitical Control ScaleTwo-dimensional factor structureUrban Black girlsPreliminary supportFactorial validityControl ScaleEquation modelingHighlighting strengthsEmpowerment literatureLimited researchGirlsIdentityEmpowermentTheoretical relationshipYouthSPCSValidityFindingsSupportEthnic Identity, Empowerment, Social Support and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Black Adolescent Girls: Examining Drug Use as a Mediator
Opara I, Rodas E, Garcia-Reid P, Reid R. Ethnic Identity, Empowerment, Social Support and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Black Adolescent Girls: Examining Drug Use as a Mediator. Child And Adolescent Social Work Journal 2020, 39: 71-86. PMID: 35462639, PMCID: PMC9031836, DOI: 10.1007/s10560-020-00706-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchBlack adolescent girlsAdolescent girlsSocial supportSexual risk behaviorsRisk behaviorsEthnic identity scoresEthnic identityNortheastern urban communityDrug useLower sexual risk behaviorsStructural equation modelingPsychological empowermentHigher ethnic identity scoresHypothesized modelResiliency skillsStrengths-based lensEquation modelingFemale adolescentsRisky behaviorsSubstance abuseProtective factorsIdentity scoresBlack girlsGirlsCultural strengths