HIV-related health behaviors among Deaf adults who use American Sign Language as their primary language


Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

4084.0: Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - Board 10

Abstract #113263

Elizabeth A. Eckhardt, CSW¹, Marjorie F. Goldstein, PhD², Patrice Joyner, MSW³, and Roberta Berry, MFA³. (1) Deaf Research Projects, NDRI/Predoctoral Fellow , BST Drug Abuse Research Program, 71 West 23rd Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10010, 212/ 845-4451, eckhardt@ndri.org, (2) National Development and Research Institutes, Inc, 71 West 23 Street, 8 Floor, New York, NY 10010, (3) Deaf Research Projects, National Development & Research Institutes, Inc., 71 West 23rd Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10010

Persons who are Deaf may have less accurate knowledge about HIV and AIDS risk, transmission and prevention than hearing persons. Little research has been conducted to understand HIV-related health behaviors and HIV knowledge of deaf adults for whom American Sign Language (ASL) is their primary mode of communication. This paper will present preliminary findings from qualitative, in-depth interviews about HIV that were conducted in ASL with deaf adults as part of a larger study. The applicability of Health Belief Model constructs (including barriers to taking action, perceived threat, and perceived susceptibility) regarding HIV-related health behaviors among these deaf participants was explored. In addition, the interviewees were asked to comment on the role that deaf culture plays in relation to their HIV and other health related behaviors. Findings include: (1) barriers to services that are outside these individuals' control, such as availability of health care provided by practitioners fluent in ASL and knowledgeable about deaf culture, are a persistent problem; (2) there is resistance to using sign language interpreters when seeking HIV-related services, and; (3) individuals are willing to risk poor communication with practitioners in order to protect their anonymity. These findings can inform HIV prevention efforts that are targeted to the deaf community.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

(1)Identify barriers to HIV-related health services for individuals who are deaf
(2)Discuss the role that deaf culture plays in certain health choices for individuals who are deaf
(3)Identify need for preventive services that are culturally and linguistically appropriate for a deaf population that uses ASL as their primary language

Keywords: Deaf, HIV/AIDS

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

DisAbility Forum Poster II

The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA