Here you will find abstracts of my latest publications and presentations.
Society for Applied Anthropology Conference,
April 21-25, 1999
Tuson Arizona.
Regular Session -"More Common Ground: A Dialogue with Students, Practitioners, & Academy".
Organizers: Ballenger, Anne (Catholic University) and Anderson, Adele (State University of New York).
Last year, a student-practitioner panel interrogated the efficacy and integration of graduate preparation,
academia, and organized anthropology. This panel builds upon those efforts toward a more common
ground for anthropology's future survival and engagement. The panelists' brief remmarks will span
studen and practitioner experiences, inlcuding academic perspectives. We will engage the audience
in a dialogue with us. Following our interactive dialogue Professor and Past AAA President James
Peacock will lead a discussion on how we conceptualize, revitalize, and embrace the potential of our
future.
Note, my contribution to recruitment of panelists and neccessary paper-work was minumal. Adele Anderson
is credited with those achievements.
Panel participants:
Adele Anderson, Moderator
Anne Ballenger
Margaret Boone
George Castile
Eliot Lee
Reeves-Ellington
Andrew Gardner
Ellen Puccia
Riall Nolan
Nitza Diaz
James Peacock, Discussant
Panelists' paper titles to follow
Society of Applied Anthropology Conference
April 21-26,1998
San Juan, Puerto Rico
CORI Session -"Refugees and Immigrants: Education and Other Issues".
Ballenger, Anne (Catholic U.) Vietnamese Women Refugees: Illness Narratives
This paper focuses on a distinct population of Vietnamese refugees:
the wives of recently re-located (1990-1995) re-education camp detainees.
Personal illness narratives of five Vietnamese women and three spouses, who were
key participants in illness episodes, were elicited and significant cultural meanings
of illness were analyzed. Illness narratives are placed in a socio-cultural perspective
including significant historical and economic issues, kinship and gender roles, for holistic
analysis and interpretation. Significant cosmological sysmbols and meaings contained in illness
narratives were identified and recommendations are made for refugee service agencies and care-givers.
Organized by Peterson, Caroline (South Florida) and Levine, Cheryl (South Florida)
Ballenger, Anne (Catholic U) "The State of Affairs: Applied Doctoral Programs".
A survey of all applied doctoral students (includes archeology & cultural anthropology). Subsequently presented results
to Catholic University's, Anthropology Department Chair.
Journal of Sexually Transmitted Diseases
1998; Vol 25,539-543.
"Risk Assessment to Improve Targeting of HIV Counseling and Testing
Services for STD Clinic Patients".
To determine whether self-administered risk assessment could improve targeting of HIV
counseling and testing in an STD clinic.
Study Design:
Computerized records from the Prince George's County, Maryland, STD clinic from 1993
through 1996 were used to develop and test models for predicting a positive
HIV test. In 1996, a self-administered risk assessment was compared with a
counselor's risk assessment of the same patient.
Results:
Testing the 10% of patients at highest risk would identify 39% of those who were
HIV-positive; testing 70% of the patients could identify 92% of those who
were HIV-positive. In 1996, 2,288 patients completed the self-administered
HIV risk assessment. The same number of HIV-positive persons (7 [28%])
were identified using either self-assessment or face-to-face interview.
Conclusions:
Selectively offering voluntary HIV testing based on risk assessment would not be
useful because it would miss many infected persons. If prevention counseling cannot be
offered to everyone, it could be targeted to those who report a risk by self-assessment.
CDC, Div. of STD/HIV Prevention: Grantee Meeting
August 22-26, 1994
Washington, D.C.
A selected synopsis of the original study is presented below based on a 1994 presentation. Subsequently, this
research was presented at the World AIDS Conference in Japan by Dr. Bernard Branson (CDC).
"HIV Test Results and Post-test Counseling by Telephone."
Branson, Bernard (CDC,AIDS Prevention), Ballenger, Anne (P.G. Health Dept), and Olthoff, Glen (P.G. Health Dept).
1994 Division of STD/HIV Prevention Grantee Meeting, Washington D.C.
Objective:
The objective of the study was to assess the feasibility, client preferences, potential benefits,
and adverse consequences of telephone notification for HIV test results in an STD clinic.
Methods
HIV testing was offered to all patients not tested within the past 3 months.
From 11/92 -4/93 patients were given the option to telephone (TN) or to
return in person (IPN) for HIV test results and counseling, and asked to complete
a questionnaire when they received results.
All patients testing positive were called to return in person for results,
retesting, counseling and referral services.
The TN period was compared to the previous six months when only IPN was available.
Selected Results
When only IPN were available, 3002 (61%) patients agreed to HIV testing and counseling
and 905(30%) returned for results.
When TN was offered, 3014 (81%) clients agreed to HIV testing.
Of those who agreed to HIV testing, 97% elected TN rather than IPN.
Further,1529 (51%) recieved results and post-test counseling by telephone.
Persons who elected TN were almost 2 times (1.7) as likely to recieve their results and
post-test counseling than when TN was not offered.
Questionnaires were completed by 88% of the 1484 clients receiving TN. Most 87% preferred
TN because of convenience, citing transportation problems and work schedules as disadvantages of
IPN.
No adverse consequences were reported by Ss or by those testing positive and called in
for results,post-test counseling,services and referral.
Selected Conclusions
When TN was offered, STD patients were more likely to be tested for HIV and more
likely to recieve results and post-test counseling.
The majority of clients preferred TN over IPN, and no adverse consequences were found.
Telephone notification is feasible and should be considered by STD clinics.