AEGiS-14IAC: Issues: Recruitment/Retention of Latino Women in a randomized HIV Intervention Chicago, IL, US. Tapia B, Perragallo NP, Ferrer L, Cianelli R and Rivero RA.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

Issues: Recruitment/Retention of Latino Women in a randomized HIV Intervention Chicago, IL, US. Tapia B, Perragallo NP, Ferrer L, Cianelli R and Rivero RA.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. F11770)

Tapia B, Peragallo NP, Ferrer LM, Cianelli R, Rivero RA
University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, United States

DESCRIPTION: A community based program Proyecto SEPA ( Salud/ health, Educacion/education,Prevencion/prevention y Autocuidado/ self-care: R01NR04746-04, P.I. Peragallo) was tailored for Puerto Rican and Mexican women in Chicago, IL, US the goal was to target Latino women in the community. Attendance to the first intervention session had the highest attrition rate, women declined participation due to distances to reach the intervention sites. Although childcare, referral system,and monetary incentives were provided, these were not sufficient to entice women to attend. Participants reported that:1) access to intervention sites,2) partner's approval of participation,and 3) sexual issues i.e. STDs and HIV were limitations for their participation. Women suggested other centers more familiar to them on a daily basis. This led to implement the program in local schools and day care centers around their community, in conjunction with an intervention approach, that was centered on women's health. Although, the actual intervention session included STDs, HIV/ AIDS,Condom use,Domestic Violence and communication/negotiation skills.

LESSON LEARNED: There are factors that inhibit minority participation and strategies, which need to be consider to overcome these impediments. To address appropriately the diversity within and among Latino women, and retention issues, will depend upon the familiarity of the location, consideration of cultural values such as "machismo"and "marianismo", trust and recruitment strategies. It is critical that intervention facilitators be bilingual, culturally competent, Latino female and healthcare professionals.

RECOMMENDATIONS: The appreciation of barriers to participation is paramount to increase Latino women's presence in intervention programs. We recommend that intervention programs targeting Latino women need an ongoing process of reassessments of cultural values and beliefs that influence women's participation/retention.

Keywords: AEGIS, HIV Infections, Hispanic Americans, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Seropositivity, Chicago, Culture, Motivation, Adult, Human, Female, Nursing

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