Generations: Culturally competent HIV prevention for Native American women

Purpose: Native American tribes in Maine are matriarchal. This presentation will discuss an innovative, privately-funded collaboration among tribal and non-tribal agencies in Maine that builds on these traditions to provide peer education, outreach and HIV testing with settled and migrant Native American women and families.

Methods: The National AIDS Fund and Johnson & Johnson created the GENERATIONS Project to address women of color affected by HIV/AIDS. Our program increases HIV/AIDS awareness among Native Americans by: 1) conducting outreach and HIV rapid testing on two reservations, at multi-tribe events and at migrant camps during the blueberry raking season; 2) Supporting Maine Indian women to increase knowledge about the disease and to help change the attitudes of the community regarding the importance of HIV prevention; 3) Incorporating prevention education in to cultural events such as the Rites of Passage ceremonies for youth and traditional women's gatherings.

Results: We have formed a successful partnership that builds on the skills and talents of traditional healers and Maine Indian women living with HIV to reduce stigma and expand HIV education and testing. Maine Indian women have been remarkably open to HIV education and testing. We have also been able to adapt and implement two CDC-approved interventions in our community.

Conclusions: By building capacity within the traditional tribal structures and individuals to provide HIV testing and education, we changed attitudes and expanded HIV testing in an underserved population.