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Learning Objective:
By the end of the presentation participants will be able to identify specific avenues for the easy integration of Hepatitis C prevention messages into existing HIV prevention programs. They will also be aware of some of the particular challenges that arise when conducting HIV and Hepatitis prevention outreach work with injecting drug users (IDUs) and creative ways to meet those challenges.
Background:
The AIDS Project of Central Iowa is a community-based organization that provides direct services to persons living with HIV/AIDS and prevention services that target individuals who are at most at risk for contracting HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis. Prevention workers at The Project have been working to integrate Hepatitis prevention messages for several years. Prevention efforts moved from grass roots street outreach to an empirically–based CDC curriculum in 2004 and have met with great success.
Setting:
Group level prevention interventions are conducted with IDUs at treatment centers, correctional facilities, and homeless shelters in Des Moines, Iowa. Individual level outreach contacts are made at shelters, convenience stores, parks and private residences.
Population e.g. API Youth, MSM, IDU:
Prevention interventions are targeted to adult IDUs of both sexes.
Project Description:
The curriculum that prevention workers at The Project use to target injecting drug users is called RAPP (Real AIDS Prevention Project.) The key to this program is the use of peer advocates, members of the target population who are trained to reach high-risk individuals in their own communities with prevention messages and supplies. Role model stories are another essential component of RAPP. These stage-based stories are written from interviews with high-risk members of the community and are distributed by peer advocates and outreach workers.
Results/Lessons Learned:
The number of outreach contacts with IDUs has increased dramatically in the year that RAPP has been used at The Project. Peer advocates have provided valuable information and energy to prevention efforts.
See more of F4 - Hepatitis Integration into HIV Prevention Programs for Injection Drug Users
See more of The 2005 National Viral Hepatitis Prevention Conference