An HIV/AIDS prevention project for Mexican homosexual men: an empowerment approach.
In this intervention, participants design and implement an HIV/AIDS prevention project for Mexican homosexual men. The intervention is consistent with, and contributes to, empowerment theory because it enhances collective action, provides opportunities to develop knowledge and skills, creates needed resources, and includes shared control with professional and among participants. The intervention described provides an illustration of an empowering process and distinguishes itself from empowerment outcomes. An evaluation of the project is also described, but the outcomes were HIV/AIDS-related behaviors rather than psychological empowerment of the participants. The results suggest that the participants' HIV/AIDS knowledge and preventive behavior improved when compared to individuals who did not participate in the intervention. In addition, the intervention generated community change initiated by participants. Implications for designing interventions using an empowerment approach are discussed.
Zimmerman
M A
MA
University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor 48109-2029, USA. marcz@umich.edu
Ramirez-Valles
J
J
Suarez
E
E
de la Rosa
G
G
Castro
M A
MA
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000635:transmission; D000328:Adult; D001727:Bisexuality / Q000523:psychology; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000635:transmission; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D011209:Power, Psychological; D015397:Program Evaluation