239837 Barbershops-“The Black Man's Country Club”- Assessing the Feasibility of a HIV Risk Reduction Program for Young, African American Men in Barbershops

Tuesday, November 1, 2011: 8:50 AM

Jillian Lucas Baker, DrPH , School of Nursing and Health Sciences, LaSalle University, Philadelphia, PA
Bridgette Mercedez Brawner, PhD, APRN , Center for Health Equity Research, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Shawn White, PhD, MA , Center for Health Equity Research, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
William Brawner, MA , Center for Health Equity Research, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Loretta S. Jemmott, PhD, RN, FAAN , Center for Health Equity Research, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
     
Issue: Black owned barbershops represent a cultural institution that regularly attracts large numbers of Black men. Barbershops provide an environment of trust and an avenue to disseminate health information. A number of health promotion projects have utilized barbershops in the Black community. However, there are few with HIV prevention messages delivered by barbers.

Description: Focus groups were conducted with African American barbers(N=27)and barbershop owners (N=9) to assess the feasibility of implementing a HIV prevention program for African American men in barbershops. Benefits and challenges for implementing a program in barbershops were discussed. Participants' shared the unique needs of African American men that should be addressed in the program. Lastly, we examined the barbers' willingness to facilitate an HIV prevention program.

Lessons Learned: Barbershop owners were supportive of the project and of their barbers being intervention facilitators. They emphasized the positive role that barbers play in the community. Barbers viewed themselves as “counselors” and viewed a HIV prevention program as an opportunity to reach men in a positive manner. Topics recommended for the program included: HIV/STIs, condom use, and violence.Recruitment and retention strategies for participation were also discussed.

Recommendation: Although it has been established that barbershops constitute an ideal opportunity for intervention, few interventions have specifically targeted HIV-risk related behaviors. Barbers are influential role models for men who seek opportunities to give back to the community. Thus, utilizing barbershops is an innovative way to use barbers as agents of change to provide men with HIV prevention messages.

Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Diversity and culture
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Program planning
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Identify benefits, barriers, and challenges for implementing a HIV intervention program in barbershops. Describe the willingness of barbers to facilitate an HIV risk-reduction program. Discuss recruitment and retention strategies for program participation.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I worked as part of the team that conducted the focus groups.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Black Communities & the HIV/AIDS Epidemic
See more of: HIV/AIDS