National HIV/AIDS Initiative: Addressing the disproportionate impact of HIV/AIDS on the US African-born refuge and immigrant population

Issues: HIV is still a major health crisis affecting U.S. communities of color. Unlike other minority groups, African immigrants and refugees lacked an indigenous body advocating and working to address the many barriers to effective HIV prevention, care and support. Description: Since 2007, the National HIV/AIDS Initiative (NAHI), a national collaborative network of African immigrant providers and CBOs, convened four regional summits as part of formative research to develop an action plan to address the rising HIV/AIDS epidemic among African immigrants and refugees in U.S. A qualitative assessment rendered useful understanding of key processes in the formation of NAHI, and defined the path forward which includes: data collection workgroup, culturally competent technical assistance to providers and organizations, shareable data surveillance infrastructure, and anti stigma education for community and providers. An area of further research is the need for increased health literacy among this population. Lessons learned: The role of faith leaders is underestimated and not adequately understood. Stigma is the greatest barrier to HIV/AIDS prevention in this community. Providers are in need of significant culturally competent education. There is a need for community based participatory research to inform the current outreach practices to the African immigrant community. While the grass roots nature of this initiative was strength, it pointed to a multiplicity of challenges that need to be taken into account for replication. Recommendations: Develop African focused anti stigma curriculum for health care providers. Equip African American serving organizations with tools to address the needs of the African Immigrant community.