title: HIV-positive African-American women's perspectives on engaging communities in the response to HIV/AIDS in Washington, D.C.
abstract: The number of African-American women infected with HIV in Washington, D.C. is growing at an alarming rate. However, the perspectives of these women on engaging communities in the response to HIV/AIDS have been lacking in the literature. To fill this gap, in-depth interviews with 18 HIV-positive African-American women living in D.C. were conducted and analyzed using thematic network analysis. Three key themes emerged from these interviews: (1) the importance of the church in building HIV/AIDS community competence; (2) women's interest in HIV/AIDS advocacy; and (3) the negative effects of stigma and limited social bonds on community engagement. We conclude by suggesting that more research is needed on the role of African-American women in community capacity building, as well as greater involvement of churches in HIV/AIDS responses.
authors.affiliation: a PATH , Seattle , WA , USA.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sanicki
authors.affiliation: b Department of Social Psychology , London School of Economics and Political Science , London , UK.
authors.forename: Jenevieve
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mannell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D003153:Community Health Services; D004219:District of Columbia; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D057545:Social Stigma; D016387:Women's Health
keywords: AIDS competent community; African-American women; HIV/AIDS; Washington, DC; community coping strategies