HIV Prevention on College Campuses: Adapting DEBIs for HBCUs

Issue: HIV/AIDS is disproportionately affecting young people. African Americans account for 65% of new HIV infections among those 13-24 years. In order to respond effectively to the HIV epidemic, it is recommended that HIV prevention programs in Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) include Evidence-Based Interventions (EBIs). Description: Seven MSIs were funded through the Minority AIDS Initiative Fund; administered through the HHS Office of HIV/AIDS to implement HIV prevention initiatives on campus. As part of their program, four Historically Black Colleges or Universities (HBCUs) selected and implemented a CDC DEBI. Since DEBIs were not designed for college students; adapting them to the college setting and population became necessary. Lessons Learned: Multi-session DEBIs are more difficult to implement on campus due to competing needs of students. However, DEBIs can be adapted and implemented to better accommodate their learning abilities. For example, the length of the curriculum can be reduced, the pace of introducing concepts can be accelerated, and an emphasis on issues relevant to college students can be incorporated. Conducting a pilot of the DEBI or obtaining student feedback prior to making modifications is crucial in developing successful adaptations. Recommendations: Selection of appropriate DEBIs must be guided by the prevention needs of students. Once the DEBI is selected, adaptation should be considered in order to match the skill level of the students' and the content of the DEBI. The adaptation of the DEBI must retain its core elements in order to maintain the fidelity of the intervention.