141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

291538
Minority serving institutions HIV/AIDS prevention sustainability demonstration initiative: HIV prevention program implementation findings

Monday, November 4, 2013

Cristina Booker, MPH , U.S. Health Division, Public Health and Epidemiology, Abt Associates, Cambridge, MA
Katherine Flaherty, ScD , U.S. Health, Public Health and Epidemiology, Abt Associates, Cambridge, MA
Jennifer Davis, MPH , U.S. Health Division, Abt Associates Inc., Bethesda, MD
Liza Solomon, MHS, DrPH , U.S. Health, Public Health and Epidemiology, Abt Associates Inc., Bethesda, MD
Chanza Baytop, MPH, DrPH , U.S. Health, Public Health and Epidemiology, Abt Associates, Inc., Bethesda, MD
Timothy Harrison, PhD , Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy, US Dept. of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC
Background: In response to disproportionately high rates of HIV infection among young adults in minority populations, the DHHS Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy established the Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) HIV/AIDS Prevention Sustainability Demonstration Initiative. The three-year initiative supports the development and implementation of HIV prevention programs on college campuses, including historically Black colleges (4), Tribal colleges (2) and a Hispanic-serving institution (1).

Methods: A multisite evaluation is currently assessing program implementation, lessons learned and sustainability. Methods include: semi-structured interviews and focus groups with grantee staff, student participants, and other informants; and a review of schools' activities and evaluation findings.

Results: Preliminary results from grantees' interviews identified several activities implemented, including: health education sessions led by student peer leaders during orientation, HIV testing offered by grantees or campus and community partners, social media used for HIV messaging, and campus events to raise HIV prevention awareness. Respondents' program implementation challenges include: recruitment and retention of student peer leaders and participants, conflicts between scheduling of program activities and competing academic demands, and student and staff turnover. Schools' implementation capacity and sustainability plans were enhanced by in-person customized technical assistance, trainings and multisite learning communities. Final evaluation results will be available in early fall 2013.

Conclusions: Reducing HIV incidence and related health disparities are primary goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. The MSI initiative evaluation describes innovative approaches to engaging rarely targeted college students, program results and lessons learned for future initiatives.

Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Diversity and culture
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs

Learning Objectives:
Describe the Minority Serving Institutions HIV/AIDS Prevention Sustainability Demonstration Initiative Discuss the results of the project’s multi-site evaluation Identify strategies to engage college students in HIV prevention programs

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, College Students

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have over 15 years of experience in HIV/AIDS program evaluation, research, and technical assistance provision. I’ve conducted studies of HIV testing, prevention and linkage to care programs in racial/ethnic minority communities for several public health agencies. I’ve been working on the Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy (OHAIDP) Minority Serving Institutions HIV demonstration project since it began. I’m coordinating and analyzing the cross-site evaluation activities described in the abstract.
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.