141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

286092
Development and pilot testing of a barbershop based HIV/STI prevention program for young adult African American men

Tuesday, November 5, 2013 : 8:50 AM - 9:10 AM

Loretta Jemmott, PhD, FAAN , Center for Health Equirty Research/ School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
John Jemmott III, PhD , Department of Psychiatry and the Annenberg School of Communication, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Jillian Lucas Baker, DrPH , School of Nursing and Health Sciences, La Salle University, Philadelphia, PA
Jennifer M. Stewart, PhD, RN , School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Bridgette Mercedez Brawner, PhD, APRN , Center for Health Equity Research and Center for Global Women's Health, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, PA
Robin Stevens, PhD, MPH , Department of Childhood Studies, Rutgers University-Camden, Camden, NJ
Ciarra Lawson, MPHc , School of Medicine, Center for Public Health Intiatives, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Background: Young adult African American heterosexual men continue to be at high risk for HIV and STIs. However, few interventions have been developed to meet the needs of this population. Barbershops represent an important community venue to reach young adult African American men. We will describe the development of a theory-based, gender specific, culturally competent behavioral intervention delivered in barbershops to reduce the risk of HIV and STIs among African American men ages 18-24.

Methods: The intervention draws upon the Theory of Planned Behavior and utilized a community participatory approach to inform the development of the intervention. Focus groups with young men, barbers, and barbershop owners were also conducted in order to enhance the content and design of the intervention.

Results: Barbers were selected as appropriate facilitators for the program. The HIV/STI risk reduction intervention included four (twenty minute) modules to be delivered to the young men while getting a haircut. An innovative technological approach was utilized-as all modules were developed into applications on iPads. Barbers were required to attend a 4 hour training session to enhance their ability to implement the intervention via iPads successfully. Barbershop owners also agreed to host the program in their shops on selected closed days.

Conclusions: The development of this innovative HIV prevention intervention for young adult, heterosexual, African American men 18-24 represents a significant contribution to the gap in the literature. As a high-risk population, this intervention has great public health significance for the health of African American men and their sexual partners.

Learning Areas:
Diversity and culture
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related nursing
Public health or related research
Systems thinking models (conceptual and theoretical models), applications related to public health

Learning Objectives:
Discuss the development of an innovative, theory-based, gender specific, culturally and contextually competent behavioral intervention to reduce the risk of HIV in African American men ages 18-24. Discuss the integration of technology into the development of HIV prevention interventions for young adult African American men.

Keywords: African American, HIV Interventions

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have worked on this project as an intervention specialist and as a funded NIH Diversity Supplement awardee.
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.