141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

291394
Latino southern REACH project: Lessons learned from community based participatory research (CBPR) to assess HIV/AIDS needs expressed within human rights framework

Monday, November 4, 2013

Jesus Felizzola, M.D., M.H.S.A., M.A. , George Washington University, Washington, DC
Serena Rajabiun, MPH, MA , Health and Disability Working Group, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA
Francisco Sastre, PhD , Center for Research on U.S. Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse, Florida International University, Miami, FL
Sheila McKinney, Ph.D. Candidate , Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL
Edme Pernia, M.A. , Miami AIDS Project, Sunrise, FL
Background Latinos in the US South are disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS. Structural barriers, service practices, and anti-immigration laws contribute to limited access to HIV services and poor health outcomes. Using CBPR approach, the Latino Southern REACH project facilitated the formation of a community coalition to document Latino's HIV needs and advocacy efforts in nine US Southern states. Methods A transdisciplinary research team and 20 community members from Alabama, Arkansas, Northern Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, Mississippi, South Carolina, and, Tennessee, engaged in a partnership to carry out the research which resulted in a multi-state coalition. Through consensus, the coalition developed the research agenda, conducted in-depth interviews, and participated in data analyses on factors impacting HIV testing, care, and treatment in 9 communities. The coalition members received training via webinars focused on 1) human rights framework and 2) research design, participant recruitment, and data collection and analysis. Lessons Learned CBPR is a feasible methodology to conduct research with communities without prior exposure to research. Feasibility is associated with clear, mutually agreed upon roles, shared decision-making, flexible research agenda, and involvement of community members in all research processes. Latino cultural constructs and language are key considerations when developing partnerships with Latino communities. Conclusions Communities must play an active role throughout the research process to ensure that studies are culturally sensitive and relevant. The process of forming community-research partnerships is time consuming, yet it results in greater capacity and commitment by community members to advocate for the health of target groups.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education

Learning Objectives:
Demonstrate the feasibility of using CBPR for the identification of HIV needs and advocacy capacity from an ecological perspective across multiple states. Discuss the lessons learned in developing community-research partnerships.

Keywords: Community-Based Partnership, HIV/AIDS

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the PI of a 5-year HRSA SPNS project to develop a medical home for HIV positive homeless individuals in NC, evaluator of a 5-year SAMHSA CSAT TCE/HIV project, and PI of Latino Southern REACH. Prior, at Howard University I held lead positions at two clinical trials, the Research Program in the Epidemiology and Prevention of Drug Abuse and AIDS, Minority Institutions Drug Abuse Research Development Program, NM- AETC.
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.