OBJECTIVE: To assess the barriers and facilitators to using African American churches as sites for implementation of evidence-based HIV interventions among young African American women. DESIGN: Mixed methods cross-sectional design. SETTING: African American churches in Philadelphia, PA. PARTICIPANTS: 142 African American pastors, church leaders, and young adult women ages 18 to 25. METHODS: Mixed methods convergent parallel design. RESULTS: The majority of young adult women reported engaging in high-risk HIV-related behaviors. Although church leaders reported willingness to implement HIV risk-reduction interventions, they were unsure of how to initiate this process. Key facilitators to the implementation of evidence-based interventions included the perception of the leadership and church members that HIV interventions were needed and that the church was a promising venue for them. A primary barrier to implementation in this setting is the perception that discussions of sexuality should be private. CONCLUSION: Implementation of evidence-based HIV interventions for young adult African American women in church settings is feasible and needed. Building a level of comfort in discussing matters of sexuality and adapting existing evidence-based interventions to meet the needs of young women in church settings is a viable approach for successful implementation.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the barriers and facilitators to using African American churches as sites for implementation of evidence-based HIV interventions among young African American women. DESIGN: Mixed methods cross-sectional design. SETTING: African American churches in Philadelphia, PA. PARTICIPANTS: 142 African American pastors, church leaders, and young adult women ages 18 to 25. METHODS: Mixed methods convergent parallel design. RESULTS: The majority of young adult women reported engaging in high-risk HIV-related behaviors. Although church leaders reported willingness to implement HIV risk-reduction interventions, they were unsure of how to initiate this process. Key facilitators to the implementation of evidence-based interventions included the perception of the leadership and church members that HIV interventions were needed and that the church was a promising venue for them. A primary barrier to implementation in this setting is the perception that discussions of sexuality should be private. CONCLUSION: Implementation of evidence-based HIV interventions for young adult African American women in church settings is feasible and needed. Building a level of comfort in discussing matters of sexuality and adapting existing evidence-based interventions to meet the needs of young women in church settings is a viable approach for successful implementation.
Authors: Teaniese P Latham; Jessica M Sales; Lorin S Boyce; Tiffaney L Renfro; Gina M Wingood; Ralph J DiClemente; Eve Rose Journal: Health Promot Pract Date: 2010-05