The Protect and Respect program: a sexual risk reduction intervention for women living with HIV/AIDS.
In 2003 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched a new HIV prevention strategy that focused prevention efforts on people living with HIV. In response to a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)/Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) initiative, a program development team in Philadelphia created the Protect and Respect program. The program integrates multiple-level prevention strategies and is tailored to address the strengths of HIV-positive women and the challenges they face to implementing behavior changes. The goal of Protect and Respect is to decrease sexual behavior that puts HIV-positive women at risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and puts others at risk for HIV transmission. The three components of the program are: brief HIV prevention messages delivered by clinicians in the context of routine medical visits; a group-level intervention (GLI) delivered by a Health Educator; and a Peer-led support group. This paper details the process of developing the three program components and describes the valuable lessons learned through the development and implementation process.
Teti
Michelle
M
School of Public Health, Drexel University, 1505 Race Street, Bellet Building, Floor 11, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA. mteti@drexel.edu
Rubinstein
Susan
S
Lloyd
Linda
L
Aaron
Erika
E
Merron-Brainerd
Jessica
J
Spencer
Susan
S
Ricksecker
Ann
A
Gold
Marla
M
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D016730:Program Development; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D021841:Safe Sex; D012944:Social Support