It's a Family Affair, Wrapping It Up, and Mother Mac: Development of an HIV/AIDS awareness video targeting prison releasees, their families, and the community

Issues: Risky sexual behavior associated with incarceration, drug use, social/economic factors can increase the odds of developing and transmitting STIs/HIV/AIDS. Inmates experience 4 times the prevalence of HIV than the general population. Individuals whose recent sex partners have been incarcerated also have higher rates of infection. Description: To increase education and awareness around issues of HIV/AIDS (substance abuse, risky sexual practices in the prison population) and its effect on the general population, a video targeted youth, heterosexual women, and prison releasees in the prevention of HIV/AIDS in a rural Florida county. Trained MPH interns and HIV/AIDS health educators conducted interviews (10) and (4) focus groups among community stakeholders to determine mutual concerns and priorities surrounding HIV/AIDS. Lessons Learned: Based on information obtained from the community, a three-part video was developed: It's a Family Affair stirs up awareness that HIV is still a major health and social problem; increases awareness about the number of African Americans living with HIV/AIDS and the stigma involved for families of loved ones living with HIV/AIDS. Wrapping It Up focuses on the reality of unprotected sex, bisexuality/MSM in prison; possible risk to sex partners of men released from prison; the increase of HIV/AIDS in heterosexual women; condom use. “Mother Mac” a fictional character educates youth about risks (drugs/alcohol, unprotected sex) that lead to HIV/AIDs. Recommendations: In order to decrease the risk of infection and transmission of HIV/AIDS among this population, a video was developed to educate inmates leaving the prison system, their families, and the community.