Title

Southern Rural African American Faith Communities' Role In Sti/Hiv Prevention Within Two Counties: An Exploration

Keywords

Adolescents; African Americans; Education; Faith-based; HIV prevention; Needs; Pastors; Perceptions; Rural; Sexual behavior

Abstract

Purpose: Because of the faith community's historical response to HIV/ AIDS, some religious leaders, local community activists, and public health professionals are challenging this institution to get involved in the struggle against HIV especially among adolescents. The paper reviews the historic process and reports findings from a study, which assess Southern Rural Florida pastors' perception of and involvement in STI/HIV prevention education of their adolescent members. Method: Surveys were administered to 43 African-American pastors of three denominations to describe existing STI/HIV prevention efforts targeting adolescents within their churches and pastors' perceptions of the ST1/HIV and drug prevention needs of their adolescent members. Results: Forty-two percent of the churches had existing educational prevention discussions focused on condom use, pregnancy and STI/HIV prevention, and what constitutes appropriate sexual behavior, while 58% did not. Pastors with program (83%) and without program (64%) desired specifically designed formal prevention programs. All pastors desired program content consistent with abstinence while 50% and 39% desired additional content on condom use and negotiating safer sex behavior, respectively. Conclusion: The existence of faith-based prevention programs offers hope as churches assume a facilitator role in prevention services; however, their rather narrow and conservative agenda may be perceived as a barrier to effective intervention prevention. © 2005 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

Publication Date

12-1-2005

Publication Title

Journal of HIV/AIDS and Social Services

Volume

4

Issue

3

Number of Pages

47-62

Document Type

Review

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1300/J187v04n03_05

Socpus ID

33645786354 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/33645786354

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