title: Increasing HIV-related knowledge, communication, and testing intentions among Latinos: Protege tu Familia: Hazte la Prueba.
abstract: Latinos are less likely to be aware of their HIV seropositivity than African Americans and Whites. 'Protege tu Familia: Hazte la Prueba' is a culturally and linguistically-sensitive HIV/AIDS prevention and testing program targeting Latino families. Using community-based participatory research techniques, Spanish-speaking bicultural community health workers helped develop and then used an educational flip chart and materials to conduct outreach and HIV prevention education in diverse settings. The intervention was created to increase HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, to improve communication regarding sexual risk, and to augment intentions to use condoms and test for HIV. A secondary purpose was to decrease HIV-related stigma by improving knowledge about transmission and reducing homophobia. Participants demonstrated significant increases in HIV knowledge, intention to practice safer sex and communicate sexual risk to partner(s), and intention to test for HIV. Improvements were also found in self-reported comfort levels when interacting with and caring for the HIV positive, thus decreasing HIV/AIDS-related stigma.
authors.affiliation: California State University-Long Beach, 6300State University Drive, Long Beach, CA 90815, USA. bellis@csulb.edu
authors.forename: Britt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rios-Ellis
authors.forename: Lilia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Espinoza
authors.forename: Mara
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bird
authors.forename: Melawhy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Laura Hoyt
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: D'Anna
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bellamy
authors.forename: Rosana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scolari
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003142:Communication; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013240:Stereotyping; D055815:Young Adult