AIDSImpact.com:: - Santa Fe, USA 2011

Abstract #428 - Developing HIV prevention programs in multicultural church setting: preliminary findings from a CBPR study
Authors: Presenting Author: Dr. Swagata Banik - Baldwin Wallace College
Additional Authors: Dr. Joyce Moon-Howard, Dr. Leslie Fisher, Dr. Michael Schuenemeyer,
Aim: To date the faith based HIV prevention efforts primarily focused on mono-racial African American churches, potentially leaving a significant numbers of African Americans and other disparity population who attend multiracial churches outside the reach of current programs. Given that multicultural/multiracial churches are on the rise, it is imperative to engage the members from multicultural churches in HIV prevention. The current study aims to understand and identify key psychosocial and structural factors associated with faith leaders that influence HIV prevention programs in a multicultural church setting.
Method / Issue: Employing Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) approaches, we partnered with the United Church of Christ HIV and AIDS Network (UCAN Inc.) to explore HIV-related perspectives of the faith leaders from United Church of Christ (UCC) in Cleveland, Ohio. We used Focus Groups (n=8) and In-depth Interviews (n=6) with pastors from eight UCC churches. In addition, to explore UCC central leadership’s perspectives we conducted in-depth interviews with central leaders (n=2). We employed semi structured interview guide to collect qualitative data. The guide was prepared based on feedback from community members, and was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at CSU. The focus group discussion and in-depth interviews was audio taped, and was transcribed verbatim.
Results / Comments: The following themes emerged from the Transcript. I. Church Leaders’ perspectives: i) Recognition of challenges faced by congregation members; ii) Responsibility and obligation to create more dialog about HIV/AIDS both in the community and in the congregation, and encouraging collective approach; iii) Identifying the strengths of congregation and the “appropriate time” for initiating a sustainable HIV program; iv) Reframing HIV/AIDS using a social justice and compassionate view point; v) Using modern communication tools to overcome existing barriers. II. Facilitators: i. Recognition of HIV disparity in the community; ii. Consensus on the importance of the issue; iii. Recognition of the importance of collaboration with other agencies; iv. Recognition of importance of electronic communication tools. III. Barriers: i. Anticipated stigma and financial concern; ii. Lack of time on the part of the pastors; iii. Lack of Volunteers; iv. Lack interdenominational collaboration; v. Lack of communication channels.
Discussion: The faith leaders in multiracial church setting have the ability to effect the development of HIV prevention programs. Given that modern communication tool such as Internet, cellphone is increasingly being used by church leaders to communicate church related matters with congregants, such tools also have potential to overcome barriers such as concern about stigma, lack of time for face-to-face interaction, and issues of sensitivity surrounding HIV for the pastors to engage in HIV prevention activities.
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