1. Evaluation of a Faith-Based Culturally Relevant Program for African American Substance Users at Risk for HIV in the Southern United States.
- Author
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MacMaster, Samuel A., Jones, Jenny L., Rasch, Randolph F. R., Crawford, Sharon L., Thompson, Stephanie, and Sanders II, Edwin C.
- Subjects
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NONPROFIT organizations , *HEALTH promotion , *RISK-taking behavior , *THEOLOGICAL virtues , *AFRICAN Americans , *HEALTH risk assessment , *PATIENTS - Abstract
Objective: This article provides an evaluation of a federally funded faith-based program that serves African Americans who use heroin and cocaine and are at risk for HIV/AIDS in Nashville, Tennessee. Methods: Data were collected from 163 individuals at baseline and 6- and 12-month follow-up interviews. A subset of participants (n = 51) completed all three interviews. Results: Results suggested that this culturally relevant set of interventions was successful in reducing substance use and HIV/AIDS risk behaviors. The program was able to show data that supported the efficacy of a faith-based approach emphasizing spirituality rather than directive, aggressive, authoritarian, or coercive counseling techniques. Discussion: The model is important to the continued development of culturally relevant interventions that are vital to decreasing the disproportionate rates of HIV/AIDS within the African American community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2007
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