Role of faith-based settings in African American adolescent HIV prevention

Evidence-based practice in community settings is increasingly the focus of HIV prevention efforts (Norton et al. 2009; NIH, 2008). One promising community resource for African American adolescent HIV prevention is faith-based organizations (FBOs) (Moore et al. 2010; Francis & Liverpool, 2009; Coyne-Beasley & Schoenback, 2000). FBOs are credible and respected in the African American community, offer youth development programs, and support religiosity, a demonstrated protective factor for youth risk behavior (Francis & Liverpool, 2009). However, factors such as religious stigma of HIV-related risk behaviors, discomfort discussing sexual topics, and hesitance in taking an active role in responding to the HIV/AIDS epidemic often limit the scope and effectiveness of FBO prevention efforts (Sutton et al., 2009; Coyne-Beasley & Schoenbach, 2000). This presentation describes findings from the qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews, which capture the experiences and perceptions of 20 African American faith-based leaders. These findings highlight the multiple roles that African American faith-based organizations and faith leaders can play in HIV prevention in addition to facilitators and barriers to implementing HIV prevention in African American FBOs. Facilitators included FBOs' commitment to the community, church networks and resources, leadership awareness, church family connectedness, and existing youth mentorship missions and programs. Barriers included silence and stigma around HIV and limited experience delivering HIV prevention. The findings also suggest that African American FBOs and faith-based leaders are uniquely placed to be instrumental resources in African American communities for adolescent HIV prevention and offer research and practice implications for HIV prevention in these settings.