Abstract
African American adolescents are at increased risk for HIV/AIDS. Using a community-based participatory research approach, we engaged three black churches in adapting an evidence-based HIV prevention intervention, Focus on Youth (FOY)+ImPACT, for faith settings. To identify potential adaptations to increase FOY’s relevance, utility, and efficacy for faith settings, we conducted eight focus groups pre- and post-intervention. Recommendations for maintaining FOY’s core elements and enhancing its cultural authenticity include the following: incorporating faith tools, building pastor capacity, strengthening parent–child communication skills, and expanding social support for parents and youth. Engaging faith communities in adapting and implementing evidence-based HIV prevention programs could reduce HIV/AIDS disparities.
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Acknowledgments
This study was made possible by a grant from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities grant #: P60MD000244. We received pilot funding from the Carolina Comprehensive NIMHD Research Center and we appreciate the support of Paul Godley, MD, PhD, MPP, Tim Carey, MD, MPH, Daniel L. Howard, PhD, and Michelle Manning, MPH. We thank the staff and board members of Strengthening The Black Family, Inc. and the youth and adults on our Community Advisory Board for their continued engagement and guidance. We also appreciate the involvement of the churches and youth and adult participants in the study. We acknowledge Clare Barrington, PhD, Assistant Professor in Health Behavior at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, for sharing her expertise in qualitative analysis. Tamara Taggart’s work on this manuscript was supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number T32AI007001. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
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Lightfoot, A.F., Taggart, T., Woods-Jaeger, B.A. et al. Where is the Faith? Using a CBPR Approach to Propose Adaptations to an Evidence-Based HIV Prevention Intervention for Adolescents in African American Faith Settings. J Relig Health 53, 1223–1235 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-014-9846-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-014-9846-y