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Promoting Optimal Sexual and Reproductive Health with Mobile Health Tools for Black Women: Combining Technology, Culture and Context

Rasheeta Chandler, Emory University Dominique Guillaume, Johns Hopkins University Andrea G. Parker, Georgia Institute of Technology Sierra Carter, Georgia State University Natalie D. Hernandez, Morehouse School of Medicine

First published online:

| DOI: https://doi.org/10.1363/psrh.12170
Abstract / Summary

In the United States, Black women are disproportionately affected by adverse sexual and reproductive health outcomes compared with women of other races and ethnicities. They have elevated rates of STI acquisition, and they are five times as likely as White women to become infected with chlamydia and gonorrhea. Although HIV infection rates among U.S. women have decreased over the past decade, Black women continue to be disproportionately affected. They have the second‐highest rate of new HIV infections after men who have sex with men, and are diagnosed at higher rates than are women of all other racial and ethnic backgrounds. In addition, while rates of unintended pregnancies and resulting births have decreased among women of all racial and ethnic groups, the proportion of pregnancies that are unintended has remained highest among Blacks (64%, vs. 38% among Whites). Disparities in contraceptive use have also been documented: Black women have higher rates of nonuse, and use less effective methods, than White women. All of these disparities in sexual and reproductive health outcomes demonstrate the necessity of novel and innovative interventions tailored to the needs and experiences of Black women. Such interventions can be pivotal in reducing existing disparities and improving sexual and reproductive health outcomes.

Author's Affiliations

Rasheeta Chandler is assistant professor, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta. Dominique Guillaume is a doctoral student, School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore. Andrea G. Parker is associate professor, School of Interactive Computing, College of Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, and adjunct associate professor, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University. Sierra Carter is assistant professor, Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta. Natalie D. Hernandez is assistant professor and interim director of the Center for Maternal Health Equity, Department of Community Health and Preventative Medicine, Office of Community Engagement, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta.

Disclaimer

The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the Guttmacher Institute.