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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Carmen Bonhometre, Haitian Women Association, 6 Fulkner Street, Dorchester, MA 02124, 617-2870-0096, nmetayer@ccher.org and Giselene Beauplan, SPARK/BMC, River Street, Mattapan, MA 02126.

Haitian-born women represent 7% of the women living with HIV/AIDS in Massachusetts. HIV/AIDS looks very different in the Haitian population of Massachusetts as compared to the general Massachusetts population. Women represent 46% of the Haitian-born people living with HIV/AIDS. Women represent only 28% of the HIV/AIDS cases in the general population. The reported mode of transmission for Haitian women differs significantly from the general population. Haitian-born women acquired HIV primarily from Heterosexual transmission (32%) and Presumed Heterosexual (58%) and unknown (8%).

The Women Working Group from the Metro Boston REACH 2010 coalition has developed and implemented an intensive small group intervention targeted to Haitian Women around Greater Boston Area. Based on socio cognitive learning model this intervention was designed with a focus on Haitian cultural values, social norms and practices, and individual attitudes and behaviors. Three years after doing intensive HIV training with Haitian women in the Greater Boston area reaching over 500 women, we are reached the following four conclusions:

1. Increased of knowledge of HIV facts did not yield the necessary impact on safer sex practices. 2. Women do not feel at risk for HIV transmission even when acknowledging casual sex and serial monogamy practices. 3. Domestic violence power cannot only be a women discussion. 4. Program needs to incorporate risk factors associated to heterosexual transmission including serial monogamy.

The Metropolitan Boston REACH 2010 HIV coalition is incorporating those lessons learned in designing an advanced intervention targeting the alumni of the first interventions.

Learning Objectives:

• Support multilevel intervention for women
• Present cultural understanding for HIV in Haitian women
• Propose model for advanced HIV prevention for this population

Keywords: Women and HIV/AIDS, Domestic Violence

Related Web page: www.ccher.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No