142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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IMPACT of a Community Popular Opinon Leader Intervention on African American Adults in a Southeastern US Community

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Sunday, November 16, 2014

Katherine Theall, PhD , Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA
Julia Fleckman, MPH , Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
Marni Jacobs, PhD , Epidemiology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
Background:  There remains a distinct need for effective HIV prevention programs in rural and semi-rural areas, particularly in the Southern U.S., if we are to keep the epidemic from following the same trajectory as seen in urban U.S. centers.  The purpose of the present study was to examine the impact of an adapted community popular opinion leader (C-POL) intervention targeting alcohol-using social networks in the southeast region of Louisiana. 

Methods:  The intervention focused on HIV risk behaviors as well as alcohol and other substance use risks.  A pre-post C-POL was conducted between October 2009 and April 2013, targeting alcohol users in alcohol venues, barber shops and salons.  A total of 65 popular opinion leaders were recruited, trained and deployed into their social networks to implement the intervention.  Anonymous community surveys conducted within the venues among 99 male and female participants at baseline and 197 at 6-months to 1-year later revealed significant behavioral and knowledge changes. 

Results:  Average sexual risk score based on 7 sexual risk items among social network members declined from 5.1 to 3.6 (p < 0.001); consistent condom use for vaginal sex increased from 17.6% to 37.2% (p < 0.001); and HIV knowledge score (based on % correct) increased from 67.2 to 76.8% (p < 0.001).  

Conclusion:  Findings add to the evidence base surrounding peer interventions and offer new insight into alternative adaptations to the C-POL.

Learning Areas:

Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs

Learning Objectives:
Discuss social network interventions aimed at HIV prevention. Evaluate the impact of a community-level intervention.

Keyword(s): Rural Health, HIV Risk Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the principal or co-principal of multiple federally funded grants focusing on the epidemiology of drug abuse, HIV prevention and co-occurring mental and drug use disorders. Among my scientific interests has been the development of strategies for preventing HIV and STDs in various vulnerable populations.
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.

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