An Internet evaluation of 'DIVAS': A website designed to prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among young Black women

In the United States, the impact of HIV and AIDS in the African American community has been devastating. The HIV/AIDS and STD epidemics represent very serious health problems for all Americans but specifically for African Americans. Although STDs like Chlamydia, HPV, and Herpes are widespread across racial and ethnic groups, STD rates tend to be higher among African Americans than White Americans. Women are now the fastest growing group to become infected with HIV. Researchers have identified several factors that influence African American women's increased risk of acquiring HIV/AIDS. These factors include an imbalance in the male-female sex ratio, other social and contextual factors, as well as issues of gender and power. The purpose of this study was to create and evaluate a healthcare website specifically designed to be culturally appropriate, while targeting young sexually active African American women who have internet access and are at high risk for STDs/STIs, and HIV/AIDS. The healthcare website constitutes a prevention intervention called "D.I.V.A.S." (Developing Individual Values Attitudes and Skills). It was launched and disseminated as an innovation via a technologically adapted social marketing campaign. The website provided prevention and health education that was informative and facilitated vicarious learning through videos modeling healthy behaviors. The study enrolled 222 African American women to evaluate the website. The women in the study had high levels of computer skill and knowledge. With results showing women with lower incomes and lower educational levels rated the website higher. Components of the website that were rated highest were the level of literacy, cultural appropriateness, and beauty of the site. The capacity of utilizing the internet to reach larger African American audiences is promising. With the creation of an innovative websites that was specifically geared toward African American women, this study has highlighted the potential of internet interventions to be used to explore culturally appropriate ways to disseminate health education.