Results from rapid community assessments to inform HIV prevention programs

The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

3021.0: Monday, November 11, 2002 - 9:00 AM

Abstract #39729

Kim Batchelor, MPH¹, Doug Kershaw¹, Elisa Ballard, MA¹, Anne Freeman, MSPH², and Ann Robbins, PhD³. (1) Community Prevention and Intervention Unit, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 400 S. Zang, #520, Dallas, TX 75208, 214-944-1065, kim.batchelor@utsouthwestern.edu, (2) Internal Medicine, AIDS Prevention Project, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 400 S. Zang, Suite 520, Dallas, TX 75208, (3) Bureau of HIV/STD Prevention, Texas Department of Health, 1100 W. 49th St, Austin, TX 78756

As part of a pilot program to improve HIV prevention practice in Texas, eight HIV prevention contractors participated in a two-day training and were provided technical support to carry out rapid assessments of well-defined populations. Case studies of three of these assessments will be described, along with lessons learned about implementation of rapid assessment by community based organizations. The three case studies focus on assessment of Latino men who have sex with men in El Paso, adolescent African American females in East Texas, and sex workers on the Texas-Mexico border.

The data collection methods used by these prevention contractors included pen-and-pencil questionnaires, focus groups, observations and the use of visual techniques, such as body mapping around sexually transmitted diseases, a "problem tree" analysis of resistance to condom use, and free-listing of priority health concerns.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of the session, participants will be able to

§ Describe the elements of training and technical assistance on rapid assessment provided to community based organizations in Texas;
§ List the difficulties encountered during implementation of community assessment by these organizations; and
§ Describe the data gathered and what methods were used during the assessment process in three of the eight organizations participating in the pilot project.

Keywords: Assessments, HIV/AIDS

Related Web page: www3.utsouthwestern.edu/preventiontoolbox

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Communities Joining to Develop Strategies for HIV Prevention

The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA