A Michelle Corbett

Publications (6)7.48 Total impact

• Article: With God's help i can do it: crack users? Formal and informal recovery experiences in El Salvador.

  Julia Dickson-Gomez, Gloria Bodnar, Carmen Eugenia Guevara, Karla Rodriguez, Lorena Rivas De Mendoza, A Michelle Corbett
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  ABSTRACT: Crack use has increased dramatically in El Salvador in the last few decades. As with other developing countries with sudden onsets of drug problems, El Salvador has few medical staff trained in addictions treatment. Little research has examined drug users? attempts to reduce or abstain from drug use in countries where government-regulated formal medical treatment for drug addiction is scarce. This paper uses qualitative and quantitative data gathered from active crack users to explore their formal and informal strategies to reduce or abstain from drugs, and compares these with components of informal and formal treatment in developed countries.
  Substance Use &amp Misuse 01/2011; 46(4):426-39. · 1.10 Impact Factor
• Article: A little thing called love: condom use in high-risk primary heterosexual relationships.

  A Michelle Corbett, Julia Dickson-Gómez, Helena Hilario, Margaret R Weeks
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  ABSTRACT: Condoms are less likely to be used in primary relationships than in other relationship types. An understanding of what women and men expect when entering into these relationships, as well as how they make decisions about condom use and other prevention behaviors, is essential to efforts to curb the spread of HIV. Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with 25 high-risk heterosexual couples, including HIV-serodiscordant couples, participating in a trial of the female condom in Hartford in 2004-2007. Data were coded and analyzed in an iterative inductive and deductive process. Participants described nonuse of condoms as a strategy to fi nd and maintain a primary relationship, establish trust and increase intimacy. Many had unprotected intercourse while recognizing their risk of HIV and other STDs, placing their love for their partner and other emotional needs over concerns about their health. Several couples reduced their STD risk by practicing negotiated safety (i.e., using condoms until their serostatus had been determined) or similar strategies, including sharing sexual or drug use history, disclosing HIV test results and using condoms until they decided that their relationship would be monogamous. HIV prevention approaches must recognize the importance of love and the needs that primary relationships satisfy if they are to be considered relevant by those at greatest risk. Negotiated safety and similar strategies may be an important risk reduction tool for heterosexuals, particularly those in HIV-affected relationships, but their potential effectiveness may vary.
  Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health 12/2009; 41(4):218-24. · 1.41 Impact Factor
• Article: Resources and obstacles to developing and implementing a structural intervention to prevent HIV in San Salvador, El Salvador.

  Julia Dickson-Gomez, A Michelle Corbett, Gloria Bodnar, Karla Rodriguez, Carmen E Guevara
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  ABSTRACT: HIV prevention researchers have increasingly advocated structural interventions that address factors in the social, political and economic context to reduce disparities of HIV/AIDS among disadvantaged populations. This paper draws on data collected in three different types of low-income communities (n=6) in the San Salvador metropolitan area in El Salvador. Nine focus group discussions were conducted between January 2006 and July 2007, 6 with community leaders, and 3 with crack cocaine users, as well as in-depth interviews with 20 crack users and crack dealers. We explore opportunities and barriers to the implementation of a community-level, structural intervention. We first analyze the different forms of leadership, and other community resources including existing HIV prevention activities that could potentially be used to address the related problems of crack use and HIV in the communities, and the structural factors that may act as barriers to capitalizing on communities' strengths in interventions. Each of the communities studied demonstrated different resources that stem from each community's unique history and geographic location. HIV testing and prevention resources varied widely among the communities, with resources concentrated in one Older Central community despite a strong need in all communities. In many communities, fear of gang violence and non-responsiveness by government agencies to communities' needs have discouraged community organizing. In the discussion, we offer concrete suggestions for developing and implementing structural interventions to reduce HIV risks that use communities' different but complementary resources.
  Social Science [?] Medicine 11/2009; 70(3):351-9. · 2.70 Impact Factor
• Article: The relationship between housing status and HIV risk among active drug users: a qualitative analysis.

  Julia Dickson-Gomez, Helena Hilario, Mark Convey, A Michelle Corbett, Margaret Weeks, Maria Martinez
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  ABSTRACT: This paper examines the relationship between housing status and HIV risk using longitudinal, qualitative data collected in 2004-2005, from a purposeful sample of 65 active drug users in a variety of housed and homeless situations in Hartford, Connecticut. These data were supplemented with observations and in-depth interviews regarding drug use behavior collected in 2001-2005 to evaluate a peer-led HIV prevention intervention. Data reveal differences in social context within and among different housing statuses that affect HIV risk or protective behaviors including the ability to carry drug paraphernalia and HIV prevention materials, the amount of drugs in the immediate environment, access to subsidized and supportive housing, and relationships with those with whom drug users live. Policy implications of the findings, limitations to the data, and future research are discussed.
  Substance Use &amp Misuse 02/2009; 44(2):139-62. · 1.10 Impact Factor
• Source

  Available from: Julia Dickson-Gomez

  Article: Unofficial policy: access to housing, housing information and social services among homeless drug users in Hartford, Connecticut.

  Julia Dickson-Gomez, Mark Convey, Helena Hilario, A Michelle Corbett, Margaret Weeks
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  ABSTRACT: Much research has shown that the homeless have higher rates of substance abuse problems than housed populations and that substance abuse increases individuals' vulnerability to homelessness. However, the effects of housing policies on drug users' access to housing have been understudied to date. This paper will look at the "unofficial" housing policies that affect drug users' access to housing. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 65 active users of heroin and cocaine at baseline, 3 and 6 months. Participants were purposively sampled to reflect a variety of housing statuses including homeless on the streets, in shelters, "doubled-up" with family or friends, or permanently housed in subsidized, unsubsidized or supportive housing. Key informant interviews and two focus group interviews were conducted with 15 housing caseworkers. Data were analyzed to explore the processes by which drug users receive information about different housing subsidies and welfare benefits, and their experiences in applying for these. A number of unofficial policy mechanisms limit drug users' access to housing, information and services, including limited outreach to non-shelter using homeless regarding housing programs, service provider priorities, and service provider discretion in processing applications and providing services. Unofficial policy, i.e. the mechanisms used by caseworkers to ration scarce housing resources, is as important as official housing policies in limiting drug users' access to housing. Drug users' descriptions of their experiences working with caseworkers to obtain permanent, affordable housing, provide insights as to how access to supportive and subsidized housing can be improved for this population.
  Substance Abuse Treatment Prevention and Policy 02/2007; 2:8. · 1.16 Impact Factor
• Article: Corrigendum to: "Resources and obstacles to developing and implementing a structural intervention to prevent HIV in San Salvador, El Salvador" [Social Science & Medicine, 70 (2010), 351-359]

  Julia Dickson-Gomez, A. Michelle Corbett, Gloria Bodnar, Karla Rodriguez, Carmen E. Guevara
  Social Science & Medicine. 71(5):1047-1047.