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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Miriam Vega, PhD¹, Miguel A. Chion, MD, MPH², Erin Araujo, BA¹, and Andrea Heckert, MPH³. (1) Latino Commission on AIDS, 24 W. 25th street. 9th floor, New York, NY 10010, 646-375-4413, mvega@latinoaids.org, (2) Acción Mutua, AIDS Project Los Angeles, 3550 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 300, Los Angeles, CA 90010, (3) Acción Mutua, César E. Chávez Institute - San Francisco State University, 3004 16th St., Suite 301, San Francisco, CA 94103

Issues: The CDC has identified various programs as effective behavioral intervention to address HIV prevention. We will discuss our efforts to assist in the adaptation of the SISTA program for high-risk Latinas in the United States. Issues of identification of target population, translation, formative assessment and piloting be described and discussed as part of the adaptation process. Challenges and benefits will be highlighted. Description: SISTA is a prevention intervention that originally targeted African-American women, utilizing the concepts of ethnic and gender pride, for a group-level five-session program. There will be discussion of the concepts of cultural vs. ethnic pride, gender, work status and its link with expression of power are constructed in the diverse Latina populations. We will also share best practices in adapting activities that meet needs and interests of Latina sub-populations (e.g. region, language, youth, incarceration, public housing communities, etc.) while maintaining core-element fidelity. Lessons Learned: The discussion will focus on common barriers to the adaptation and implementation of this program for Latinas. One common barrier is the individual's level of acculturation and how it impacts sense of ethnic pride and whether that construct can be used to empower Latina women in an HIV prevention program. Another challenge has been finding key Latinas with whom women of different ages can identify. Recommendations: Before implementing such a program with Latinas there needs to be a rigorous formative assessment process whereby buy-in is cultivated and acculturation level is assessed and considered in the program design.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand what is considered an effective prevention program.
• Identify steps in the adaptation process.
• Identify cultural variables related to Latina women in different settings (e.g. urban vs. rural).
• Gain a base understanding of how to identify target population.

Keywords: Prevention, Latinas

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered