Maria Cecilia Zea

My recent research interests include developing sustainable interventions to decrease HIV/AIDS. Early detection and treatment can curtail infections.  To that effect, with funding from NIMH, we are developing a webnovela to promote HIV testing among Colombian men who have sex with men.  I am also interested in psychosocial and behavioral factors relevant to HIV/AIDS and sexual risk among Latino men who have sex with men.  My research examines the role of cultural, situational, and structural contexts, as well as the relevant individual characteristics on HIV risk.  I have been the Principal Investigator on two NIMH-funded and two NICHD-funded projects: 1) Disclosure of HIV status among Latino gay men; 2) contextual factors of sexual risk among Latino men who have sex with men; 3) HIV prevalence, sexual risk, and attitudes towards circumcision among Colombian MSM (with Paul Poppen, Carol A. Reisen, and Fernanda Bianchi); 4) A webnovela to promote HIV testing among Colombian MSM (with Paul Poppen and Ana Maria del Río-González) and co-investigator in several projects.  I am actively involved in the District of Columbia Developmental Center for AIDS Research and the GW Latino Health Research Center.