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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Kathryn Pitkin Derose, PhD, MPH¹, Peter J. Mendel, PhD¹, Michael Mata, MA, MDiv², Clyde W. Oden, DO, MPH, MDiv³, Ricky N. Bluthenthal, PhD¹, Jennifer Hawes-Dawson, BA¹, David E. Kanouse, PhD¹, Blanca Dominguez, MPH¹, and Lizeth Bejarano, BA¹. (1) RAND Health, 1776 Main St, PO Box 2138, Santa Monica, CA 90407-2138, (310) 393-0411, ext 6302, pitkin@rand.org, (2) World Vision, U.S.A., 133 South Gramercy Place, Los Angeles, CA 90004, (3) Bryant Temple AME Church, 2525 W Vernon Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90008

Religious congregations reach many lives and play an important role in social change. Some posit they could play a similarly powerful role in achieving the Millenium Development Goal of combating HIV/AIDS, however, few studies have examined congregational involvement in this area. Here we describe the processes by which HIV/AIDS prevention and care activities are implemented in diverse, urban congregations and explore congregational factors affecting the type and intensity of these activities. We develop a conceptual framework – based on research literatures on diffusion of innovations, institutional theories of organizational change, congregational health programs, and community responses to HIV/AIDS – in which congregations' capacity for engaging in HIV/AIDS activities are affected by norms and attitudes, the organizational structure of congregations and other community elements, various sets of internal and external resources, and demographics. We refine this framework through extensive qualitative research in high-risk, urban areas of a large west coast city. Specifically, we interviewed 12 religious and public health leaders about congregation-level efforts in HIV prevention and care. From these interviews and follow-up, we identified 6 congregations of varying denomination, race and ethnicity, and size that are actively involved with HIV/AIDS efforts and 6 similar congregations that are not. Through multiple site visits and interviews with pastors, lay leaders, and congregants at each congregation, we identified key factors and processes that affect congregational involvement in HIV prevention and care. We use the results of our case studies to refine our conceptual framework and develop hypotheses that can be tested quantitatively in future research.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the key factors that affect congregational involvement in HIV/AIDS.
• Recognize the benefits of case study methodology for exploration of understudied topics.
• State testable hypotheses about congregational involvement in health and HIV/AIDS ministries.

Keywords: Faith Community, HIV/AIDS

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation