Toro-Alfonso J; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1996 Jul 7-12; 11: 464 (abstract no. Pub.C.1164).
Fundacion SIDA de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico. Fax: (809) 782-1411.
Issue: Latino gay males have been a hard-to-reach population in prevention efforts mainly due to cultural and religious beliefs. Same sex behavior had been understudied and now becomes a major issue in the prevention of HIV and AIDS. Puertorrican gay male population can be used as a model to develop prevention programs that could be replicated in Latin America and with other Latino/Hispanic populations in other nations. Project: Fundacion SIDA, the oldest and largest AIDS NGO in Puerto Rico is developing a prevention model targeted to Latino gay males. Based on the health beliefs theory in combination with concepts of self-efficacy and cognitive ideas, a series of workshops are developed to enhance self-esteem and safer sex behavior among participants. This intervention is based on Latino cultural beliefs and takes on account specific prevention needs of this population. Results: Based on the participation of 587 gay males over a period of three years the Latino Gay Male Project have developed a four-week prevention workshop followed by the establishment of a weekly prevention support group. Measures of self-esteem was taken and increased after the intervention as the reduction of unsafe sex behavior among participants. Fifty-two percent of participants informed a significant reduction on unprotected penetrative sex. Lessons Learned: Working with Latino males we must certainly include cultural and family issues related to homosexuality. Issues of alcohol and drug abuse are frequent result of societal rejection, this must be included in the intervention. Special efforts should be made for outreach to include younger population and low income gay males.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Behavior
- Culture
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Hispanic Americans
- Homosexuality
- Homosexuality, Male
- Humans
- Latin America
- Male
- Population
- Puerto Rico
- Sexual Behavior
- Social Behavior
- Substance-Related Disorders
- Unsafe Sex
- education
- methods
Other ID:
UI: 102221510
From Meeting Abstracts