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Dr. Natasha Crooks
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Academic Career Length
8Years (2019-Present)
(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)
Representative Publications
View All Publications16 January 2019 in Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health
Journal Article
NCNatasha Crooks
Natasha CrooksBKBarbara King
Barbara King
ATAudrey Tluczek
Audrey Tluczek
JSJessica McDermott Sales
Jessica McDermott Sales
CONTEXT: Black females in the United States disproportionately suffer from STDs, including HIV. Understanding the sociocultural conditions that affect their risk is essential to developing effective and culturally relevant prevention programs.METHODS: In 2016–2017 in Madison, Wisconsin, 20 black females aged 19–62 completed interviews that explored the sociocultural conditions associated with sexual development and STD/HIV risk. Interviews were guided by grounded theory; open, axial and selective coding and constant comparative analysis were used to identify developmental phases and relevant sociocultural conditions.RESULTS: Three phases of becoming a sexual black woman were identified: Girl, when participants reported beginning to understand their sexuality; Grown, marking a transition to adulthood, when participants began to feel more self‐sufficient yet still grappled with their emerging sexuality; and Woman, when participants developed a strong sense of self and took ownership of their bodies. Two sociocultural conditions affected progression through these phases: stereotype messaging and protection (both self‐protection and protecting others). Negative life events (e.g., sexual trauma) and early sexualization reportedly affected sexual development, and STD experience influenced self‐perceptions of sexuality and sexual behavior, often leading to self‐protective behaviors. Older participants reported strategies to protect young black females from negative sexual experiences.CONCLUSION: Interventions at multiple levels of the social ecology throughout the life course may help reduce STD/HIV risk among black women in the United States. Future research should include examination of the experiences of black females younger than 18 and evaluation of the protective strategies employed by older black females.
8 December 2022 in Social Science & Medicine
Journal Article
NHNefertiti OjiNjideka Hemphill
Nefertiti OjiNjideka HemphillNCNatasha Crooks
Natasha CrooksWZWenqiong Zhang
Wenqiong Zhang
FFFareeha Fitter
Fareeha Fitter
KEKatherine Erbe
Katherine ErbeMKMary Dawn Koenig
Mary Dawn Koenig +7
5 February 2021 in Journal of Medical Ethics
Journal Article
This paper describes how to ethically conduct research with Black populations at the intersection of COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement. We highlight the issues of historical mistrust in the USA and how this may impact Black populations’ participation in COVID-19 vaccination trials. We provide recommendations for researchers to ethically engage Black populations in research considering the current context. Our recommendations include understanding the impact of ongoing trauma, acknowledging historical context, ensuring diverse research teams and engaging in open and honest conversations with Black populations to better address their needs. The core of our recommendation is recognising the impact of trauma in our research and health care practices.
22 July 2019 in Culture, Health & Sexuality
Journal Article
In the USA, Black girls and women face significant health disparities and disproportionately experience violence, racism, discrimination, stereotype messaging and elevated STI/HIV rates. Research shows the importance of familial systems and effective communication in decreasing risky behaviours among Black girls. This grounded theory study explored the sociocultural conditions that influence the process of becoming a sexual Black woman. Analytic results of interviews with 20 Black women identified protection as a major category associated with Black female sexual development and related risk behaviour. This paper describes the role of Black women as protectors of young Black female sexuality, the sociocultural protective strategies they used across the life course and the consequences of absent protection. Findings can inform future evidence-based, culturally sensitive interventions to promote the sexual health and development of Black girls and women in the USA.
18 November 2022 in Journal of Emergency Nursing
Journal Article
EHEmily K. Hill
Emily K. HillOBOlivia M. Bimbi
Olivia M. Bimbi
NCNatasha Crooks
Natasha CrooksRBRyan Brown
Ryan BrownAMAngela B. Maeder
Angela B. Maeder1 October 2020 in Social Science & Medicine
Journal Article
About Me
Dr. Crooks is an Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) College of Nursing and faculty affiliate at the Center for Dissemination and Implementation Science (CDIS) in the Department of Medicine. Her community-engaged research program centers on addressing sexual health disparities among Black girls and women. Her current research focuses on the development and testing of IMAGE (IMARA for Black Male caregivers and Girls Empowerment) a family based HIV prevention intervention designed to increase the protection of Black girls' sexual and reproductive health funded by NIMHD (R01MD018929).
Dr. Crooks earned her BSN and PhD in Nursing at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She completed NIH-funded (K12GM0000580), postdoctoral training at Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. Her research has been supported by federally- and internally funded awards. Dr. Crooks is actively involved in several organizations such as the National Black Nurses Association and Center for AIDS Research.
Dr. Crooks career is dedicated to protecting Black female sexual and reproductive health. She has been invited to collaborate on projects to aimed at improving Black maternal health outcomes, and HIV outcomes among Black sex workers in Chicago.