Reducing Risk of HIV Among African-American Women

Morehouse School of Medicine: Prevention Research Center

Topics:
HIV/AIDS & STD Prevention

A model for an HIV risk-reduction program was developed by researchers of the Morehouse School of Medicine–Southside Atlanta Community Partnership, a 15-year-old coalition. The seven-session program addresses issues such as HIV risk knowledge, intention to reduce risk behaviors, communicating with sexual partners, culture and gender, definition of and beliefs about safe sex, and other related topics. The sessions incorporate Nguzo Saba, the seven principles of Kwanza, the African-American holiday: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. Several community residents were trained as lay health advisors and hired to make telephone calls and in-person visits to encourage participants to stay in the program. About 420 African American women who live in south Atlanta attended the initial seven sessions, and more than 60 percent are still participating in the project after 5 years. Preliminary evaluation shows an increase in participants’ awareness of factors contributing to women’s HIV risk. Future evaluation will analyze the program’s effect on participants’ health and risk behavior. A faith-based project is also being initiated to make the program available to churches in the communities represented by the coalition board, and two city-funded community centers are becoming involved in the project.

 

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