Linda L. Groetzinger, AM, ACSW, School of Public Health, Division of Community Health Sciences, University of Illinois, 3420 N. Seminary Ave, Chicago, IL 60657-1517, 773-525-4262, lgroet1@uic.edu

The usefulness of an ecological model for integrating cultural issues and cultural competence into public health planning is demonstrated. Men of South Asian heritage were studied to determine how their backgrounds affected their values, beliefs, experiences, and views about sexuality, dating and marriage, with particular focus on issues related to potential HIV/AIDS risk The opportunistic sample included men from 20-59 years of age, with diverse religious backgrounds, birthplaces, education, employment, and marital and living situations. In depth interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using Atlas-ti software. Numerical and thematic findings are reported. These include: (a) only the gay men saw HIV as a risk in their own lives or among South Asian Americans; (b) more than half of the men had engaged in sex with more than one partner, older men no less than younger; (c) among the sexually active men, condoms were not widely or consistently used; (d) all respondents, whether raised in U.S. or South Asia, sought to integrate South Asian values into their lives; (e) almost no one had ever discussed sex with their parents or their children; (g) respondents were divided as to whether they felt health promotion should be culturally specific; (h) many expressed reluctance to see South Asian physicians for "private" health matters. Recommendations include: (a) facilitating parents to lead sexuality discussions with children; (b) addressing stigma through community and cross-generation programs; (c) including South Asian Americans as planners and audience for health promotion; (d) placing HIV prevention “leaders” in South Asian films.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation attendees should be able to

(
• Name the five levels of influence upon health behavior according to the presenter's adaptation of the ecological model; (
• Name examples of influence for each level which impact upon sexual HIV risk taking; (
• Discuss examples at each level which are specific to South Asian Americans' cultural heritage; (
• Discuss the derivation of this application of the model from the presenter's interview-based qualitative study of South Asian men.

Keywords: HIV Risk Behavior, Cultural Competency

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.