Project
Goals and Objectives
The goals of this project are
to:
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Develop, document and
evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention approach
that is based in drug using locations and uses peer
leaders and drug-using networks for the distribution
of HIV prevention materials and information. |
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Train and educate active
drug users to become "leaders," or Peer
Health Advocates, who educate and model HIV prevention
to members of their drug using networks. |
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Describe the characteristics
and relationships of effective Peer Health Advocates
who are most successful in bringing about the long-term
adoption of HIV prevention behavior amongst their
friends and relations. |
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Initiate and document
the development of, and activities associated with,
a drug-user-led Community Health Advocacy group
as a way to address issues identified by, and of
concern to, active drug users and to support sustainability
of the intervention over time. |
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Project
Details
Peer Health Advocates (PHAs)
are active drug users trained to disseminate HIV
prevention information and practices to their own
networks and other active drug users in locations
where individuals use and elsewhere in the community.
Those recruited as Peer Health Advocates participate
in a 13-week training program in HIV prevention
strategies, based upon messages, products and procedures
developed by active drug users for use with their
networks and in drug use settings. Trained PHAs
(150 over two years) are encouraged to disseminate
their prevention knowledge and skills among their
drug using networks and in known high-risk settings
where drugs are regularly used. A community-wide
survey and 360 individual interviews will be used
to assess changes in prevention behavior and the
impact of the PHAs in the drug-using community of
Hartford over time. The model's strength lies in
its potential for sustainability, as most PHAs are
long-term drug users who are committed to the local
community, regardless of their drug use status.
Project Findings
Poster presentation (pdf) |
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Project Contact:
Margaret
R. Weeks, Ph.D., Principal Investigator
Diafuka
Saila-Ngita, Ph.D.
Project Coordinator
Project Staff:
ICR
Margaret R. Weeks, Ph.D., Principal Investigator
Jean J. Schensul, Ph.D.,
Co-Principal Investigator
Kim Radda, R.N., M.A.,
Co-Principal Investigator
Diafuka Saila-Ngita, Ph.D., Project Coordinator
Julia Dickson-Gomez, Ph.D., Ethnographer
Mark Convey, M.A., Ethnographer
Juan Restrepo, M.H.S.A., Data Manager
Katie Mosack, Ph.D.,
Data Analyst
Oscar Woods, H.S., Intervention Facilitator
Chris Ortiz, H.S.,
Intervention Facilitator
Maria Martinez
Intervention Coordinator
Hispanic Health Council
Scott Clair, Ph.D.,
Data Analyst
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