title: Informing faith-based HIV/AIDS interventions: HIV-related knowledge and stigmatizing attitudes at Project F.A.I.T.H. churches in South Carolina.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Project F.A.I.T.H. (Fostering AIDS Initiatives that Heal) was established in January 2006 to reduce the stigma of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among African American faith-based organizations in South Carolina. During its first year, Project F.A.I.T.H. funded 22 churches to provide HIV-related programs and services to their congregations and surrounding communities. To determine the baseline level of HIV-related knowledge and stigmatizing attitudes, we conducted a survey with parishioners, pastors, and care team members at Project F.A.I.T.H. churches.
  
  
  METHODS
  During 2007, 20 Project F.A.I.T.H. churches conducted cross-sectional surveys with 1,445 parishioners, 61 pastors, and 109 care team members measuring their HIV-related knowledge and stigmatizing attitudes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  While most parishioners were very knowledgeable about HIV transmission via unprotected sex and needle sharing during injection drug use, they were less knowledgeable about transmission via casual contact, mosquitoes, donating blood, and an HIV test. Overall, HIV-related stigma was low at Project F.A.I.T.H. churches. However, males and older parishioners (aged > or = 65 years) were significantly less knowledgeable and had greater HIV-related stigma than females and younger parishioners. Pastors and care team members at Project F.A.I.T.H. churches were significantly more knowledgeable and harbored significantly less stigma than their parishioners.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To effectively address HIV-related stigma at African American churches, educational programs must reinforce the ways in which HIV can and cannot be transmitted, and pay particular attention to educating males and older populations. These findings may be helpful to HIV-prevention efforts targeting African American faith-based organizations in South Carolina and elsewhere.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, 800 Sumter St., Columbia, SC 29208, USA. llindley@mailbox.sc.edu
authors.forename: Lisa L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Lindley
authors.forename: Jason D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Coleman
authors.forename: Bambi W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Gaddist
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012067:Religion; D013022:South Carolina; D013240:Stereotyping; D055815:Young Adult
references.citation: Am J Public Health. 1999 Sep;89(9):1390-6
references.pmid: 10474558
references.citation: Health Soc Work. 2007 May;32(2):151-4
references.pmid: 17571650
references.citation: Health Psychol. 2006 Jul;25(4):501-9
references.pmid: 16846325
references.citation: Health Psychol. 2004 Sep;23(5):492-502
references.pmid: 15367069
references.citation: Am J Public Health. 2003 Oct;93(10):1720-7
references.pmid: 14534228
references.citation: J Immigr Health. 2004 Oct;6(4):155-65
references.pmid: 16228698
references.citation: J Am Acad Nurse Pract. 2007 May;19(5):242-50
references.pmid: 17489957
references.citation: AIDS Care. 2007 Jan;19(1):28-33
references.pmid: 17129855
references.citation: Adv Data. 1990 Dec 18;(195):1-12
references.pmid: 10108776
references.citation: Am J Prev Med. 2004 Aug;27(2):97-105
references.pmid: 15261895
references.citation: J Adolesc Health. 2000 Apr;26(4):289-94
references.pmid: 10734276
references.citation: Sch Inq Nurs Pract. 2001 Summer;15(2):161-74; discussion 175-7
references.pmid: 11695492
references.citation: Fam Community Health. 2007 Jan-Mar;30(1 Suppl):S104-6
references.pmid: 17159623
references.citation: Am J Public Health. 2002 Mar;92(3):371-7
references.pmid: 11867313
references.citation: Health Educ Behav. 2006 Oct;33(5):643-63
references.pmid: 16861590
references.citation: Am J Public Health. 2001 Oct;91(10):1686-93
references.pmid: 11574336
references.citation: J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2006 May;17(2 Suppl):9-19
references.pmid: 16809872
references.citation: J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care. 2006 Jul-Aug;17(4):3-15
references.pmid: 16849084
references.citation: Am J Public Health. 2002 Mar;92(3):378-81
references.pmid: 11867314
references.citation: AIDS Patient Care STDS. 2007 Aug;21(8):584-92
references.pmid: 17711383
references.citation: Am J Public Health. 2002 May;92(5):805-10
references.pmid: 11988451
references.citation: Fam Community Health. 2007 Oct-Dec;30(4):318-27
references.pmid: 17873638