10th International AIDS Conference Yokohama, Japan — Aug 7-12, 1994

Int Conf AIDS 1994 Aug 7-12; 10:395 (abstract no. PD0760)
Nemoto T; Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco 94133.

OBJECTIVE: To describe and evaluate the efforts toward cultural appropriateness of AIDS education and prevention programs targeting African American, Latinos, Asian Americans, and American Indians in the San Francisco Bay area.

METHODS: This study first describes the efforts toward cultural appropriateness of the programs based on observation of materials and strategies of the programs, and interviews with staff using a structured questionnaire. Then, this study evaluates the effect of cultural appropriateness of the programs based on interviews with people who participated in the programs. The preliminary findings reported in this abstract are based on interviews with a total of 25 staff and directors.

RESULTS: The issues which staff and directors perceive to be important in AIDS education and prevention are very similar across all programs: trust, respect, and confidentiality between staff and clients, commitment to engage in risk reduction behaviors among clients, addressing the stigmatization of persons with AIDS, sexuality issues, conflict with family members, and health-related issues other than AIDS. However, the strategies and ideas to deal with these issues vary, depending on the target group's culture, immigrant status, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. For example, role playing to provide skills for negotiation of sex between a heterosexual couple may not be culturally appropriate for recent Asian immigrants.

CONCLUSION: Culturally more appropriate programs employ a variety of strategies and flexible ideas to deal with common issues to meet the diverse needs within the targeted racial/ethnic groups in the U.S.

Copyright © 1994 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.