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

Abstract #115626

Deborah Koniak-Griffin, EdD, RNC, FAAN, School of Nursing, University of California, Los Angeles, Box 956919, Los Angeles, CA 90095-6919, 310-206-3842, dkoniak@sonnet.ucla.edu and Janna Lesser, RN, PhD, Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229.

Although HIV prevention programs have been designed for high-risk youth, few have involved adolescent parents. Very limited data available indicate that young mothers benefit from these programs but express a strong need to have their partners involved in the interventions. The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate a couple-focused, culturally-appropriate and theory-based HIV prevention program specifically designed for young parents of predominantly Latino background. Forty-nine couples (98 individuals) were recruited from community-based organizations and alternative schools and randomly assigned by site to either the lengthier 6-session HIV prevention intervention or to a one session traditional AIDS education program. The intervention (Respecting and Protecting Our Relationships) built on feelings of maternal and paternal protectiveness and integrated traditional or cultural teachings from the National Latino Fatherhood and Family Institute's Con Los Padres program as motivation to reduce risky sexual behavior. Ancient teaching methods such as storytelling and “rites of passage” lessons were incorporated by the team of male and female facilitators conducting the sessions. Data were collected on sexual risk behaviors and other variables at baseline, and 3-, 6-month follow-up evaluations. Findings showed that the proportion of unprotected sex episodes was significantly reduced over time in the treatment group compared to the control group, and this was the case for both males and females. AIDS knowledge showed a statistically significant increase over time in both groups. The couple-focused HIV intervention was well accepted by the inner city adolescents and is realistic for implementation in a community setting.

Learning Objectives: Upon completion of this presentation the learner will be able to describe

• components of a couple-focused HIV prevention program for adolescent parents
• outcomes of the couple-focused HIV prevention program and implications for social policy

Keywords: Hispanic Youth, Sexual Risk Behavior

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.