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

Abstract #114385

Michelle Teti, MPH, Susan Rubinstein, MPH, and Linda Lloyd, PhD. School of Public Health, Drexel University, Mail Stop 660, 245 N. 15th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, 215-762-4146, mt79@drexel.edu

Issue: While Peer Educators participate in various HIV prevention activities, few evaluations exist that describe the changes made by the Peers through this work. It is important to learn more about how Peers are affected by their roles in HIV-prevention.

Description: Peer Educators working for the Protect and Respect project, a Special Project of National Significance (SPNS) designed to reduce high risk sexual behaviors among HIV-infected women receiving primary care medical services, hold various responsibilities. Peers advise project processes, recruit participants, and lead weekly support groups designed to help women integrate newly acquired risk reduction skills into their lives and sustain these skills over time. Peers meet regularly with the Interventionist for training and assistance planning groups.

Lessons Learned: Process notes from weekly meetings with Peers, and Peer interviews and surveys, indicate that the attitudes, beliefs, and actions of Peers have changed through their employment. Peers report more confidence in their ability to talk openly about their experiences with HIV and lead group discussions with other HIV-positive women. They also report feeling inspired and moved by the success stories of the women in their groups, motivating them to continue their work.

Recommendations: Peers can enhance prevention projects, but it is also important to remember that Peer leaders themselves can change in positive ways through their roles. These changes can help the peers empower others and spread risk reduction messages positively and powerfully throughout their social networks. Peers require ongoing and thorough training, support, and supervision to maintain this success.

Learning Objectives: