Implementation of Evidence Based HIV Interventions Into Church Settings for Young Adult Women

Background: Implementation of evidence-based interventions (EBIs) into community settings is vital to impeding the spread of HIV among African Americans. Despite the prominent role the African American church has in the health of young African American women, it remains underutilized as a forum for implementation of (EBIs) to prevent HIV. The purpose of this study is to examine the barriers and facilitators and adaptation of an implementation of an HIV EBI into a church setting for African American women ages 18-25. 

Methods: This is a mixed method, multilevel study using interviews, focus groups and surveys of 4 pastors, 34 young adult women and 100 congregants in four churches.

Results: Barriers included pastor’s discomfort in distributing condoms and lack of education regarding HIV/AIDS. Facilitators included the strong presence of the church as a trusted institution for delivery of health interventions, which is also situated in communities with the highest HIV risk. Implementation of the intervention was supported by adaptation to fit church context and integration of health professionals.

Conclusions: A primary product included an adapted HIV intervention suitable for church settings. These results provide strategies for the implementation of HIV EBIS in churches with nurses at the forefront of facilitating this process. Findings contribute significantly to development of community based health policies related to implementation of health interventions and to the understanding of the implementation process in systems that face significant contextual barriers. These findings can be applied to other organizations and systems to promote implementation and dissemination of EBIs.