This is my story: a descriptive analysis of a peer education HIV/STD risk reduction program for women living in housing developments.

Descriptive, qualitative data was collected from 30 women who participated in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-funded Perinatal HIV Reduction and Education Demonstration Activities (PHREDA) Project. Women were primarily heterosexual, welfare-dependent, African-American mothers. Staff trained women to conduct HIV/STD education as peer volunteers. The theory-based educational components consisted of role model stories developed by women about their experiences with HIV/STDs and discussion groups to build behavioral and communication skills. Women were given role-model stories and safer sex supplies to initiate conversations about women's health and sexual safety in their communities. PHREDA groups allowed women to identify their risk reduction, sexual, and family issues. Role model stories provided a validating medium through which high-risk women explored reproductive health risk and planned steps toward behavioral change. Descriptive data from peer volunteers can provide an important perspective on small group, peer-based community HIV/STD reduction interventions.