Ralph DiClemente

Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Professional overview

Dr. Ralph DiClemente was trained as a Health Psychologist at the University of California, San Francisco where he received his PhD in 1984 after completing a ScM at the Harvard School of Public Health.  He earned his undergraduate degree at the City University of New York.

Dr. DiClemente’s research has four key foci:

1. Developing interventions to reduce the risk of HIV/STD among vulnerable populations
2. Developing interventions to enhance vaccine uptake among high-risk adolescents and women, such as HPV and influenza vaccine
3. Developing implementation science interventions to enhance the uptake, adoption and sustainability of HIV/STD prevention programs in the community
4. Developing diabetes screening and behavior change interventions to identify people with diabetes who are unaware of their disease status as well as reduce the risk of diabetes among vulnerable populations.

He has focused on developing intervention packages that blend community and technology-based approaches that are designed to optimize program effectiveness and enhance programmatic sustainability.

Dr. DiClemente is the author of ten CDC-defined, evidence-based interventions for adolescents and young African-American women and men. He is the author of more than 540 peer-review publications, 150 book chapters, and 21 books. He serves as a member of the Office of AIDS Research Advisory Council.

Previously, Dr. DiClemente served as the Charles Howard Candler Professor of Public Health at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University.  He was also Associate Director of the Center for AIDS Research, and was previously Chair of the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education at the Rollins School of Public Health.

Dr. DiClemente is Past President of the Georgia chapter of the Society for Adolescent Health & Medicine.  He previously served as a member of the CDC Board of Scientific Counselors, and the NIMH Advisory Council.

Education

BA, The City College of the City University of New York (CCNY), New York, NY

ScM, Behavioral Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

PhD, Health Psychology, University of California San Francisco Center for Behavioral Sciences, San Francisco, CA

Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California, San Francisco, CA

Areas of research and study

Community Interventions

Diabetes

HIV/AIDS

Implementation science

Influenza

Psychology

Publications

Publications

Influence of sources of information about influenza vaccine on parental attitudes and adolescent vaccine receipt

Overcoming barriers to HPV vaccination: A randomized clinical trial of a culturally-tailored, media intervention among African American girls

Perceived Difficulty of Performing Selected HIV/AIDS Preventive Behaviors and Life Satisfaction: Is there a Relationship for African American Adolescents?

School-located vaccination clinics for adolescents: Correlates of acceptance among parents

Gargano, L. M., Weiss, P., Underwood, N. L., Seib, K., Sales, J. M., Vogt, T. M., Rask, K., Morfaw, C., Murray, D. L., Diclemente, R. J., & Hughes, J. M. (n.d.).

Publication year

2015

Journal title

Journal of Community Health

Volume

40

Issue

4

Page(s)

660-669

10.1007/s10900-014-9982-z

Abstract

Abstract

Four vaccines are recommended by The Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices for adolescents: tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap), meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4), human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV), and annual seasonal influenza vaccine. However, coverage among adolescents is suboptimal. School-located vaccination clinics (SLVCs) offer vaccines to students at school, increasing access. This study seeks to determine the relationship between attitudes of parents of middle- and high-school students and acceptance of SLVCs for all four adolescent recommended vaccines. We conducted a telephone and web-based survey among parents of students enrolled in six middle and five high schools in Georgia. Analyses were conducted to examine associations between parental attitudes and willingness to allow their child to be vaccinated at school. Tdap and influenza vaccine had the highest rates of parental SLVC acceptance while HPV vaccine had the lowest. Parents who accepted SLVCs had higher perceived severity of influenza, meningococcal, and HPV illnesses compared to parents who did not accept SLVC. Intention to vaccinate was associated with SLVC acceptance for Tdap [Adjusted OR (AOR) 7.38; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 2.44-22.31], MCV4 (AOR 2.97; 95 % CI 1.67-5.28), and HPV vaccines (AOR 7.61; 95 % CI 3.43-16.89). Social norms were associated with acceptance of SLVCs for influenza vaccine (AOR 1.44; 95 % CI 1.12-1.84). These findings suggest parents of adolescents are generally supportive of SLVCs for recommended adolescent vaccines. Perceived severity of illness and intention to get their adolescent vaccinated were the most consistent correlates of parental SLVC acceptance for all vaccines. Future SLVC planning should focus on perceptions of disease severity and benefits of vaccination.

Sibling incest

The association between stress, coping, and sexual risk behaviors over 24 months among African-American female adolescents

The effect of high rates of bacterial sexually transmitted infections on hiv incidence in a cohort of black and white men who have sex with men in Atlanta, Georgia

The effects of a mass media HIV-risk reduction strategy on HIV-related stigma and knowledge among African American adolescents

The moderating role of parental psychopathology on response to a family-based HIV prevention intervention among youth in psychiatric treatment

The need for biological outcomes to complement self-report in adolescent research

The Relationship Between Male Gang Involvement and Psychosocial Risks for their Female Juvenile Justice Partners with Non-gang Involvement Histories

Use of Dual Methods for Protection from Unintended Pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Adolescent African American Women

Kottke, M., Whiteman, M. K., Kraft, J. M., Goedken, P., Wiener, J., Kourtis, A. P., & DiClemente, R. (n.d.).

Publication year

2015

Journal title

Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology

Volume

28

Issue

6

Page(s)

543-548

10.1016/j.jpag.2015.04.008

Abstract

Abstract

Study Objective: To characterize factors associated with dual method contraceptive use in a sample of adolescent women. Design, Setting, Participants, Interventions, and Main Outcome Measures: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of sexually active African American women aged 14-19 years who attended an urban Title X clinic in Georgia in 2012 (N = 350). Participants completed a computerized survey to assess contraceptive and condom use during the past 2 sexual encounters with their most recent partner. Dual method use was defined as use of a hormonal contraceptive or intrauterine device and a condom. We applied multinomial logistic regression, using generalized estimating equations, to examine the adjusted association between dual method use (vs use of no methods or less effective methods alone; eg, withdrawal) and select characteristics. Results: Dual methods were used by 20.6% of participants at last sexual intercourse and 23.6% at next to last sexual intercourse. Having a previous sexually transmitted disease (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.26-4.18), negative attitude toward pregnancy (aOR, 2.25; 95% CI, 1.19-4.28), and a mother who gave birth as a teen (aOR, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.21-4.52) were associated with higher odds of dual method use. Having no health insurance (aOR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.18-0.82), 4 or more lifetime sexual partners (aOR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.22-0.78), sex at least weekly (aOR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.29-0.99), and agreeing to monogamy with the most recent partner (aOR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.16-0.96) were associated with decreased odds of dual method use. Conclusion: Dual method use was uncommon in our sample. Efforts to increase use of dual methods should address individual and relationship factors.

Validation of the Sexual Communication Self-Efficacy Scale

Acceptability of condoms, circumcision and PrEP among young black men who have sex with men: A descriptive study based on effectiveness and cost

Adaptation of the African couples HIV testing and counseling model for men who have sex with men in the United States: An application of the ADAPT-ITT framework

Added benefits: reduced depressive symptom levels among African-American female adolescents participating in an HIV prevention intervention

Associations Between Psychiatric Impairment and Sexual Risk Behavior Among Teens in Mental Health Treatment

Combination HIV Prevention Interventions: The Potential of Integrated Behavioral and Biomedical Approaches

Correlates of gang involvement and health-related factors among African American females with a detention history

Correlates of incident trichomonas vaginalis infections among African American female adolescents

Correlates of inconsistent refusal of unprotected sex among Armenian female sex workers

Development and preliminary evaluation of a behavioural HIV-prevention programme for teenage girls of Latino descent in the USA

Development, Theoretical Framework, and Evaluation of a Parent and Teacher–Delivered Intervention on Adolescent Vaccination

Differences in Sexual Risk Behaviors Between Lower and Higher Frequency Alcohol-Using African-American Adolescent Females

Differential sensitivity to prevention programming: A dopaminergic polymorphism-enhanced prevention effect on protective parenting and adolescent substance use