Proyecto Alcance: An HIV-prevention systems approach – the role of Promotores, Latino Immigrant Families, and Latino Youth in HIV prevention

Background: The Promotores de Salud model is a health promotion strategy proven highly effective in various countries. This project utilized this model to reach Latino youth and parents in the San Francisco Bay Area to increase their understanding of sexual health, sexual diversity and HIV prevention and screening. The goal of this project is to increase communication between parents and youth. Methods: Forty- five promotores were recruited to provide information to Latino families and youth about HIV prevention and testing, adolescent sexual health, sexual diversity, and support services. Targeting Latino families was employed as an innovative method for reaching youth and getting them tested for HIV. Results: Two culturally appropriate manuals were developed to train promotores and provide information to the target population. The project trained 45 promotores, reached 214 parents and 801 youth, and helped 175 youth get tested for HIV. Promotores used two complementing approaches: 1) educating families about safer sex practices, accepting sexual diversity and discussing sex and HIV-related matters with youth, and 2) educating youth about sexual awareness, sexual diversity, safer sex practices and HIV and connecting them with HIV testing and support services. After the program, 80% of promotores increased their HIV-knowledge, 82% of parents reported feeling able to talk more effectively with youth about HIV prevention, and 81% youth reported knowing more ways to protect themselves during sex. Conclusions: Interventions should continue to explore how strengthening parent-youth communication can lead to increased sexual health,decreased HIV risk, and increased HIV testing among Latino youth.