The findings and conclusions in these presentations have not been formally disseminated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy.

Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - 11:00 AM
49

Impact of a comprehensive community-level HIV-prevention program on the behaviors of racial and ethnic minority young adults in Broward County, Florida

William W. Darrow1, Claudia Uribe2, Kenneth Obiaja2, and Hugh Gladwin3. (1) Robert R. Stempel School of Public Health, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151st Street, TR-7, North Miami, FL, USA, (2) REACH 2010 Community Demonstration Project, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151st Street, TR-7, North Miami, FL, USA, (3) Institute for Public Opinion Research, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151st Street, HM-246, North Miami, FL, USA


Background:
Our Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) 2010 coalition designed in 1999, began implementing in 2000, and has been evaluating for the past five years a culturally competent and comprehensive participatory action research project to eliminate disparities in HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Interventions incorporate the abstinence, be faithful, proper and consistent use of latex condoms (ABC) message advocated by CDC since 1985, and support CDC guidelines for testing.

Objective:
To assess trends in the adoption of “safer sex” messages and acceptance of HIV-antibody and gonorrhea testing by African-American, Hispanic, Haitian, and other Caribbean Island young adults (18-39 years old) living in the 12 zip-code areas of highest AIDS incidence (1994-1999).

Method:
Cross-sectional computer-assisted telephone interview surveys were conducted with eligible respondents in 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2005. Responses were examined by the self-reported characteristics of participants and tested for statistically significant trends.

Result:
Sex without a condom declined from 26.3% in 2001 to 21.5% in 2005 as reports of abstinence remained constant and condom use increased. Condom use at least once in the past year increased steadily from 51.8% in 2001 (n=363) to 65.8% in 2005 (n=243) among respondents from the Caribbean (p<0.001). Reports of HIV-antibody testing did not increase (p>0.05): 73% reported ever being tested in 2005 (n=1432); 55.8% reported an HIV-antibody test in the past year (N=1040). Similarly, tests for gonorrhea remained unchanged: 41.4% reported ever being tested in 2001 (n=1933) and 42.6% in 2005 (n=1331). African-American young adults were most likely to indicate testing for HIV/AIDS and for gonorrhea.

Conclusion:
Coalition efforts appear to be having an impact on decisions to use condoms, but not on testing for HIV/AIDS or gonorrhea.


Implications:
Project activities should be continued and fully supported through 2010 to determine if disparities in HIV/STD can be eliminated.

See more of STD Prevention Challenges in Reaching Racial/Ethnic Populations
See more of Oral and Poster

See more of The 2006 National STD Prevention Conference