AEGiS-15IAC: Effective interventions. Community HIV information/education for seniors (CHIEFS).

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

Effective interventions. Community HIV information/education for seniors (CHIEFS).

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. MoOrD1091)

Williams LL
Williams & Associates, Bronx, United States

Issues discussed: Findings from African American senior focus groups will assist HIV service providers working with this population by (a) defining the special needs(b) identifying the appropriate messages and messengers for intervention (c) presenting effective outreach strategies(d) assessing sexual and drug using behaviors and HIV disease progression and co-morbidity factors.

DESCRIPTION: Emphasis of the focus groups was on the assessment of available services, quality of the delivery of HIV prevention services to African Americans aged 50 and over.

LESSONS LEARNED: Seniors are engaging in risky sexual and drug use behaviors. Seniors are unlikely to use condoms consistently due to a lack of knowledge of HIV transmission and prevention methods. There are few appropriate HIV prevention programs for seniors. Medical providers misdiagnose HIV-related symptoms in seniors. Seniors do not feel comfortable discussing sex and sexuality issues with a younger medical provider. Due to certain biological processes that occur in aging, women can create an elevated risk of HIV infection from unprotected sex.

RECOMMENDATIONS: HIV prevention programs should be created and implemented to specifically target seniors. Educational materials need to be developed for older women that explain the interaction between the aging process and risk for HIV infection from unprotected sex. Outreach and prevention programs targeting seniors should include workshops and trainings devoted to developing 'safe' sexual and drug using practices. Educational programs should be created for medical providers on recognizing seniors as an at-risk population and effectively engaging them in discussions around HIV testing. Social marketing and media education HIV prevention campaigns should be developed and implemented for seniors. HIV prevention programs targeting seniors should utilize senior- peer educators. More research is needed on seniors' sexual and drug using behaviors.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Seropositivity, Unsafe Sex, HIV Infections, Teaching, Counseling, African Americans, Peer Group, Behavior, Focus Groups, Interpersonal Relations, Humans, Female, education

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MoOrD1091