Improving access to HIV testing and counseling and prevention education: A rural Hispanic/Latino Promotores Program

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Antonio Torres, BA¹, Lina Loaiza, BS¹, Elvia Graves¹, Michaela G. Lindahl, MPH², Daniel Lopez-Cevallos, MPH², and Elizabeth Rink, LCSW, CHES². (1) Health Department, Benton County, 530 NW 27th St, Corvallis, OR 97330, (541) 766-6153, antonio.torres@co.benton.or.us, (2) Public Health Division, Benton County Health Department, 530 NW 27th Street, Corvallis, OR 97330

The Promotores de Salud HIV Integration Program utilizes bilingual /bicultural promotores to conduct HIV testing and counseling, prevention education, and referral services to Hispanic/Latino migrant seasonal farmworkers in rural Benton County, Oregon. The promotores are leaders in the community and serve as a bridge between the agencies, their services and people in the community. An important piece of this program is the advocacy for human rights and the improvement of health care and health information access to the underserved. Outreach activities are offered to the Latino population without distinction to risk or legal status. Promotores assure clients confidentiality and/or anonymity. Outreach is performed at various locations such as schools (parenting programs etc), tree farms, nurseries, churches, labor camps, etc. and promotores collaborate with other agencies in the community. Given that a portion of this population is mobile due to seasonal work, using Oraquick Advance Rapid HIV–1/2 Antibody Test has been effective in getting people to take the test. Promotores provide health education using Popular Education developed in Latin America. It was originally developed to teach poor farmers to read and write, and has been effective for HIV/AIDS prevention in this setting. By using dinámicas the Hispanic/Latino population feel comfortable and become more involved in the learning process on HIV/AIDS prevention issues. The comprehensive approach of the Promotores de Salud program has built a successful HIV prevention program for the local Hispanic/Latino community.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

1.Describe how the promotores role in the community was key to provide access to health services to Latinos
2.Identify two effective outreach methods for reaching and engaging Latinos for HIV Testing and Counseling.
3.Apply two popular education dinámicas (interactive and participatory techniques) to provide culturally appropriate HIV education to Latinos.

Keywords: Community Health Promoters, Latino Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered

Recorded presentation

Public Health & Human Rights: The Role of CHWs

The 134th Annual Meeting & Exposition (November 4-8, 2006) of APHA