 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
V. AnnDenise Brown, DrPH, Director of Evaluation, The Balm in Gilead, Inc., 130 W 42 Street, Suite 450, New York, NY 10036, 212-730-7381, vadbrown@balmingilead.org, Saba Jearld, Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 722 W. 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, and Pernessa C. Seele, MA, Founder/CEO, The Balm in Gilead, Inc., 130 West 42nd Street, Suite, 450, New York, NY 10036.
Rates of HIV/AIDS among minorities have reached epidemic proportions. Increasing HIV testing among minority populations is crucial, because in its absence the HIV remains undetected and untreated and prognosis is poor. African American faith-based communities have long been in the vanguard of social change and are being increasingly mobilized to address health matters. This study reviews three intervention models of faith-based HIV testing and counseling , using case study methodology. Testing and counseling sites chosen for study are located in Harlem, New York; Cleveland, Ohio and Houston, Texas. Programs differed on the extent of community outreach, HIV testing as part of a continuum of care and membership involvement of the broader community. Lessons learned from these projects will be assessed with the goal of developing a protocol for HIV counseling and testing services that can be implemented in churches or other faith-based institutions in African American communities. Results reveal that elements essential to the success of a faith-based testing and counseling program include inter alia, leadership involvement, education of the organization’s membership, active collaboration with local Departments of Health, and staff training. In all cases, demographic and risk factor characteristics of the target population need to be considered.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: HIV Interventions, Community-Based Health Promotion
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: The Balm in Gilead, Inc.
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: I am an employee of this organization.