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

Abstract #117985

Britt Rios-Ellis, PhD¹, Rocio Leon, BS², Jose Angel Gutierrez, PhD, JD³, and Carlos Ugarte, MSPH². (1) Health Science, California State University Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Boulevard, Long Beach, CA 90840, (562)985-1770, bellis@csulb.edu, (2) Institute for Hispanic Health, National Council of la Raza, National Council of la Raza, 1111 19th Street Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20036, (3) Political Science, University of Texas Arlington, Political Science Department, PO Box 19539, Arlington, TX 76019

Background: The National Council of La Raza (NCLR) Latino Families HIV/AIDS Prevention Project derived from a national assessment of HIV risk and prevention education in 14 sites throughout the US and Puerto Rico. Methods: Utilizing its national CBO affiliate base, 121 HIV positive Latinos engaged in in-depth interviews and 201 high risk Latinos in focus groups. Content analysis of transcripts was conducted to ascertain salient themes. Results: HIV risk among Latinos was influenced by the lack of targeted culturally and linguistically relevant prevention education, socioeconomic conditions, and gender and cultural constructs. Latinas, particularly those in stable relationships, had little or no information regarding HIV. This was particularly disconcerting as the majority of HIV positive Latinas had become infected by their husbands, with no other risk factors. Participants suggested a myriad of prevention strategies including the use of fotonovelas, promotores based education, and strategies that incorporated the family in prevention. Results: Community based recommendations and the transformation of this information to practice will be presented. NCLR has utilized these community driven strategies to promote HIV prevention and education throughout the organizations national affiliate base. These efforts include the development and testing of novelitas (vignettes), PSAs with HIV positive Latinos and Latino celebrities, and the creation of a promotores-based program that is currently being established among affiliate CBOs. Conclusions: Preliminary data from CBO affiliates indicate that the novelitas, PSAs and promotores are effective methods of HIV education within Latinos throughout the US, many of whom had not yet recognized their HIV risk.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will be exposed to data from the National Council of La Raza's Latino HIV/AIDS Assessment, a 14-site qualitative/quantitative assessment that involved 322 HIV positive and high risk Latinos in focus groups and in-depth interviews.
• The participant will learn the risk factors for HIV among Latinos and how these are exacerbated by the lack of health related information, access to care, and neglect of targeted culturally and linguistically appropriate prevention information.
• The participant will be exposed to new and innovative strategies by which to prevent HIV infection within Latino communities.

Keywords: Latinos, HIV/AIDS

Related Web page: www.nclr.org

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.