Ralph DiClemente
Ralph DiClemente
Scroll
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:
- Developing interventions to reduce the risk of HIV/STD among vulnerable populations
- Developing interventions to enhance vaccine uptake among high-risk adolescents and women, such as HPV and influenza vaccine
- Developing implementation science interventions to enhance the uptake, adoption and sustainability of HIV/STD prevention programs in the community
- 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, NYScM, Behavioral Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MAPhD, Health Psychology, University of California San Francisco Center for Behavioral Sciences, San Francisco, CAPostdoctoral Fellow, University of California, San Francisco, CA
-
Areas of research and study
-
Community InterventionsDiabetesHIV/AIDSImplementation scienceInfluenzaPsychology
-
Publications
Publications
Witnessing Community Violence and Health-Risk Behaviors Among Detained Adolescents
AbstractVoisin, D. R., Salazar, L. F., Crosby, R., DiClemente, R., Yarber, W. L., & Staples-Horne, M. (n.d.).Publication year
2007Journal title
American Journal of OrthopsychiatryVolume
77Issue
4Page(s)
506-513AbstractThis study examines whether witnessing community violence, in the 12 months prior to juvenile detention, is related and health-related outcomes in the 2 months prior to being detained among 550 youth. Participants answered survey questions using audio-computer assisted self-interviewing procedures, which assessed demographic, problem, and drug and sexual risk behaviors. Multiple logistic regression analyses, controlling for significant covariates, indicated that adolescents, in the last 12 months, who reported witnessing community violence, relative to their peer witnessing no violence, were in the last 2 months prior to being detained, twice more likely to have suicidal threats, 2 times more likely to use marijuana and alcohol, 2 times more likely to get high on alcohol or other drugs during sexual intercourse, and 2 times more likely to have sex with a partner who was high on alcohol or other drugs. Finding suggest that detained youth, many of whom may not access traditional helath care, should be offered prevention and intervention services dring detention, which provides a critical window of opportunity for needed services.Worry about sexual outcomes scale
AbstractSales, J. M., Mülhausen, R. R., Spitalnick, J., & DiClemente, R. (n.d.).Publication year
2019Page(s)
106-108Abstract~Xu M, DiClemente R. Risk Communication: A Contemporary Perspective". In International Encyclopedia of Public Health (3rd ed.), Carolyn G, Lincoln A, Antony A (Eds). United States: Elsevier Ltd. (In Press)
AbstractDiClemente, R. (n.d.).Abstract~Xu MA, Choi J, Capasso A, DiClemente R. Association of trauma history with current psychosocial health outcomes of young African American women. Youth.
Xu MA, Choi J, Capasso A, DiClemente R. Improving HPV vaccination uptake among adolescents in low resource settings: Sociocultural barriers and facilitators. Adolescent Health, Medicine, and Therapeutics.
Xu MA, Choi J, Rosenberger JG, Zimmerman RS, DiClemente R. Determinants of an HIV preventive vaccine among a highly vulnerable population: African American men who have sex with men. Vaccines.
Xu MA, Choi J, Capasso A, DiClemente R. Enhancing vaccine uptake among boys and girls: the importance of targeting both genders for optimal HPV vaccine coverage in LMICs. Vaccine.
:AbstractDiClemente, R. (n.d.).Publication year
2025Journal title
Violence Against WomenAbstract~Young adult women and correlates of potential adoption of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) : Results of a national survey
AbstractRubtsov, A., Wingood, G. M., Dunkle, K., Camp, C., & DiClemente, R. (n.d.).Publication year
2013Journal title
Current HIV ResearchVolume
11Issue
7Page(s)
543-548AbstractWe examine potential use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among young adult women, based on nationally representative random-digit dial telephone household survey of 1,453 US African-American and white women. The hypotheses were generated based on Health Belief Model. Our analyses showed that, as compared to women of 30-45 years old, young women of 20-29 years old experienced stronger social influences on PrEP uptake. However, as compared to older women, young women did not report higher potential PrEP uptake or adherence, despite their greater risk of HIV. For PrEP to be an effective method of prevention for young adult women, interventions are needed to increase HIV risk awareness.Young African American men having sex with multiple partners are more likely to use condoms incorrectly : A clinic-based study
AbstractCrosby, R. A., DiClemente, R., Yarber, W. L., Snow, G., & Troutman, A. (n.d.).Publication year
2008Journal title
American Journal of Men's HealthVolume
2Issue
4Page(s)
340-343AbstractThis study tested the research hypothesis that men's errors using condoms would be associated with having multiple sex partners. Specifically, men engaging in sex with three or more women were compared with those having sex with two or fewer women. Recruitment (N = 271) occurred in a publicly funded sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic located in a metropolitan area of the Southern United States. All men were clinically diagnosed with an STD. They completed a self-reported questionnaire (using a 3-month recall period). Those reporting sex with men were excluded from the analysis. About one half of the men (48.5%) reported penetrative sex with three or more women. The authors found that among young African American men, newly diagnosed with an STD, reporting recent (past 3 months) sex with multiple partners may be emblematic of condom errors. These men may benefit from clinic-based, targeted counseling and education designed to foster improved quality of condom use.Young Women's Perspective of the Pros and Cons to Seeking Screening for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea : An Exploratory Study
AbstractChacko, M. R., von Sternberg, K., Velasquez, M. M., Wiemann, C. M., Smith, P. B., & DiClemente, R. (n.d.).Publication year
2008Journal title
Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent GynecologyVolume
21Issue
4Page(s)
187-193AbstractStudy Objective: To identify young women's pros and cons (decisional balance) to seeking chlamydia (CT) and gonorrhea (NGC) screening. Design: Prospective, cross sectional study. Setting: Community-based reproductive health clinic. Participants: 192 young women (66% African American; mean age 18.9 years). Main Outcome Measures: Content analysis of responses obtained during a decisional balance exercise (pros and cons) promoting CT and NGC screening was conducted. Thematic categories were developed through a coding process, and each response was assigned to one thematic category. The frequency of pros and cons responses for each category and the frequency of participants endorsing each category were calculated. Results: Ten thematic categories in relation to pros and cons of seeking CT and NGC screening were: being healthy; awareness of the body; systemic factors around the clinic visit and testing procedures; benefits and aversions around treatment; partner trust issues; confidentiality; prevention of long term adverse effects, protection of the body; concern for others; fear of results/aversion to testing; and logistical barriers. The three most often cited pros were awareness of the body, being healthy and treatment issues; and the three most often cited cons were logistical barriers (time/transportation), fear/aversion to testing, and systemic factors. Conclusions: A variety of pros and cons to seeking CT and NGC screening were identified at a community-based clinic. Providers in clinical settings can utilize this information when encouraging patients to seek regular STI screening by elucidating and emphasizing those pros and cons that have the most influence on a young woman's decision-making to seek screening.КЛИНИЧЕСКИЕ И ЛИЧНОСТНЫЕ ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКИ ЖЕНЩИН С КОИНФЕКЦИЕЙ ВИЧ/ВГС, УПОТРЕБЛЕНИЕМ АЛКОГОЛЯ И НАРКОТИКОВ НА ЭТАПАХ ЗАБОЛЕВАНИЯ
AbstractKhalezova, N. B., Boeva, E. V., V.Rassokhin, V., Gutova, L. V., DiClemente, R., & Belyakov, N. A. (n.d.).Publication year
2019Journal title
HIV Infection and Immunosuppressive DisordersVolume
11Issue
4Page(s)
40-50AbstractThe objective of the survey: to analyze clinical, psychosocial and personal status in women co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), and their alcohol addiction. Materials and methods: the check-up of 191 surveyed women with HIV and HCV co-infection taking into account epidemiologic evidence, laboratory parameters: immunologic (CD4 lymphocyte count), virological (HIV and HCV RNA, HCV genotype) and complete and biochemical blood count was made. Detailed check-up of psychosocial and narcological status with the following assessment of alcohol use in 166 surveyed women was made; clinical, laboratory (ethyl glucuronide (EtG) determination in urine and carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) determination in serum), and instrumental methods. Results: Mean age of patients was 34,9±3,9 years. Most women (88%) had satisfactory social status. Most women had a long-standing co-infection. 3,7% of women were in the subclinical stage of HIV infection, 92.1% had stage 4A, 4B-11% and 4B-11%. The median number of CD4 lymphocytes was 470 cells/μl. 92,2% received ART, and 96,7% of women showed a high rate of treatment compliance. Among the prevalent HIV-associated diseases were candidiasis (53,2%) and viral infections (8,1%) and bacterial diseases (3%); a high percentage (15%) of past tuberculosis of various localization was noted. In 89,9% of women, a high replicative activity of HCV was detected in the blood. According to the results of indirect liver elastometry, 98,3% had minimal and moderate fibrosis (METAVIR ≤F2). 86,9% of patients showed total bilirubin level within the normal range, median alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was 62 cells/μl and median aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was 48 cells/μl. Comorbid infectious and non-infectious diseases were diagnosed in 65,4% of women. Antiviral therapy (ART) of chronic hepatitis C was performed in 4,7% of surveyed women who received the combination of pegylated interferon (pegIFN) and ribavirin. Mean history of psychoactive drug use was 7,2±4,1 years. By the time of survey, 96,4% of women denied use of any psychoactive drugs other than alcohol. In past medical history, 81,9% of patients used opioids, regular use of alcohol with the following addiction syndrome was diagnosed in 88,6% of patients. Increasing CDT concentration was revealed in 3 patients and in 3 cases, this parameter was within borderline unstable zone. Under assessment of psychopathologic status, prevalent psychopathologic syndromes were insomnia, psychoorganic syndromes and anxiety. According to aggression scale, high indices by «relational aggression», «irritation », «grievance», «suspicion», «guilt». Prevalent types of attitude to HIV-infecton were ergopathic, sensitive, anosognosic.ЭПИДЕМИОЛОГИЧЕСКАЯ, КЛИНИЧЕСКАЯ И ФИНАНСОВАЯ СОСТАВЛЯЮЩИЕ РЕЗУЛЬТАТОВ МНОГОЛЕТНЕЙ АНТИРЕТРОВИРУСНОЙ ТЕРАПИИ ПАЦИЕНТОВ С ВИЧИНФЕКЦИЕЙ
AbstractBelyakov, N. A., Rassokhin, V. V., Kolbin, A. S., DiClemente, R., Panteleev, A. M., Azovtseva, O. V., Ogurtsova, S. V., Simakina, O. E., Stepanova, E. V., Vyaltsin, S. V., Zholobov, V. E., Kovelenov, A. Y., Melnikova, T. N., Kurganova, T. Y., & Ulumbekova, G. E. (n.d.).Publication year
2019Journal title
HIV Infection and Immunosuppressive DisordersVolume
11Issue
4Page(s)
7-19AbstractThe aim of the study was to analyze the results of long-term antiretroviral therapy (ARV) in patients with HIV-infection basing on epidemiological, clinical and economical parameters in the Northwestern Federal District (NFD) of Russia. Materials and methods. Epidemiogical analysis was conducted using the data of reports from 10 NFD regions in the period from 2005 to 2018: morbidity rate, prevalence of HIV-infection, number of people living with HIV-infection (PLWH) and being under regular medical check-up. For clinical analysis were used some key indices of ARV effectiveness such as patients' therapy coverage, clinical stages of HIV-infection, mortality rate and lethality rate in patients. Health costs were calculated basing on ARV procurement in the District from federal and regional programs as well as from funds allocated on diagnostic products and prevention programs. Study results. On the top of administered ARV, rates of mortality and prevalence of HIV-infection in the RF and NFD had increasing tendency. The rate of mortality in PLWH increased in several times while the lethality rate changed insignificantly. Number of PLWH on the stage of clinical signs grew sixfold reaching 63,1%. Questionnaire survey was held in 74 infectious disease physicians with the following estimation of values of some reasons of low effectiveness of ARV and transformation of epidemic into severe and comorbid forms. By reason rating, low ARV coverage in patients was the most common, late detection of HIV-infection and treatment onset, poor adherence and therapy discontinuation, qualified staff shortage, low accessibility of medical organizations, insufficient choice and quality of ARV. In considering financial costs on ARV, insufficient appropriation of funds and insufficient support of other activities including organizational and preventive measures were revealed.‘We know what he likes, even if he doesn’t know’ : how the children of South Asian immigrants characterize and influence the diets of their parents
AbstractAuer, S., Penikalapati, R., Parekh, N., Merdjanoff, A. A., DiClemente, R., & Ali, S. H. (n.d.).Publication year
2024Journal title
Health Education ResearchVolume
39Issue
2Page(s)
131-142AbstractForeign-born (first-generation) South Asians face a growing diet-related chronic disease burden. Little is known about whether the adult US-born (second-generation) children of South Asian immigrants can provide unique insights as changemakers in their parents’ dietary behaviors. This study aims to assess how second-generation South Asians describe and influence the dietary behaviors of their parents. Between October and November 2020, 32 second-generation South Asians [mean age 22.4 (SD 2.9), 53% female] participated in online interviews centered around factors involved in their (and their parents) eating behaviors. Thematic analysis revealed three types of parental dietary drivers (socioecological factors that impact the dietary choices of parents): goal-oriented (i.e., parents’ dietary intentionality), capacity-related (e.g., environmental barriers) and sociocultural (cultural familiarity, religion and traditions). Participants described three major mechanisms of influence: recommending new foods, cooking for parents, and bringing new foods home. These influences primarily occurred in the household and often involved participants leveraging their own nutritional knowledge and preferences to expand dietary diversity and healthier behaviors among their parents. Evidence suggests that second-generation South Asians may act as powerful agents of dietary change within their households and can provide novel insights to help address and overcome sociocultural, linguistic, and other structural barriers to better understanding and intervening in the health of the South Asian community.‘We know what he likes, even if he doesn’t know’: how the children of South Asian immigrants characterize and influence the diets of their parents
AbstractDiClemente, R., Auer, S., Rushitha, R., Parekh, N., Merdjanoff, A., & Ali, S. (n.d.).Publication year
2024Volume
Health Educ Research, 39Page(s)
131-142Abstract~