Impact of a community collaborative HIV prevention program on urban parents training to become HIV community educators

Objectives This study examines the preliminary impact of a community collaborative HIV prevention project involving parents from Bronx, New York as HIV community educators.

Methods A sample of urban parents (n=90) recruited to participate in the CHAMPIONS program were randomized into an experimental group, receiving community collaborative training and mentorship, and a comparison group receiving standard training. Both groups of parents were trained in an evidence-based HIV preventative intervention. All participants completed pre- and post-assessments with items developed based upon The Theory of Unified Behavior in order to tap influences on intention to collaborate in the project. Results of factor analysis, as well as high cronbach alpha levels among scales, indicate the instrument utilized possessed an acceptable degree of internal consistency and validity.

Results Bivariate analyses indicate that the experimental group evidenced significant changes in mean score values across constructs that are theorized to influence participation in HIV prevention efforts with researchers. However, there were no significant changes in same constructs for the comparison group. Specifically, the experimental group evidenced significant means score increases in regards to habitual and automatic processes, social norms and beliefs and expectations, salience of the behavior, and HIV prevention knowledge.

Conclusions Participation in the CHAMPIONS program appears to be associated with increases in factors that are theoretically linked to participation in the project. Future research should further examine if strengthening of, and further focus on, these significant constructs within community collaborative research efforts is significantly associated with actual participation in an HIV prevention research project.