Capacity Building for Faith-Based Organizations in HIV Prevention

Background:  Recently, faith-based organizations (FBOs) have taken a greater role in providing HIV prevention services, particularly in African American communities.  The traditional role of FBOs in community development and parishioner care situates them well to provide trusted, culturally competent community-based HIV prevention.  This study assessed the capacity of FBOs in a southeastern state to engage in HIV prevention.

Methods:  Participants completed a quantitative survey to assess the capacity of their FBOs to deliver faith-based HIV prevention.  Survey items assessed personal beliefs, social justice beliefs, organizational engagement, personal readiness, organizational readiness, and personal proximity to persons living with HIV.  Measures related to services provided by their FBO and services the FBO was prepared to provide were also included. 

Results:  Eighty-eight participants completed the survey.  Most were African American (n=78, 88.6%) and female (n=57, 64.8%).  Participants included congregants (n=35, 39.7%), leaders (n=25, 28.4%), and lay leaders (n=19, 21.6%).  Overall, 70% of FBOs were ready to address HIV/AIDS in their community, and 100% of participants believed that their FBO should address HIV/AIDS.  31.4% of respondents believed that their FBO had the capacity to address HIV/AIDS, and 48.6% reported that their FBO had a ministry to address HIV/AIDS.  ANOVA results revealed that participants from FBOs which had previously participated in a faith-based HIV prevention intervention were significantly more likely to be ready to address HIV/AIDS than those which had not (F=8.99; p<.001). 

Conclusions:  FBOs are viable organizations to conduct HIV prevention; however, capacity-building programs are necessary to facilitate their engagement and delivery of programs.