HIV among African Americans

1. Alerting the Public: Decreasing HIV
and its risks factors among African
Americans in Washington, D.C.: In
a Community Based Participatory
Research Program.
Capella University
DRPH 8170 Advanced Methods In Epidemiology
Melinda Marshall

2. Why should Americans be concerned
about HIV among African Americans
 The HIV/AIDS epidemic has increased
in the African American community
catastrophically, over estimated
260,521 African Americans were
carriers of HIV (CDC, 2012).
 African Americans in Washington D.C.
comprise of 50% persons infected in
the U.S. with HIV/AIDS and nationally
40% of African Americans were
carriers; and 8 times more likely to
carry the virus that their white
counterparts
 75% of African Americans ever
diagnosed with HIV have died ( CDC,
2014).
 Consequently, multiple factors
contributing to the onslaught of
disease. For instance, bisexual males
who have sex with males, oral or
anal sex, poverty. housing and poor
healthcare access and testing (CDC,
2012)
 Also, the U.S. spends 12.1 billion
dollars annually on treating HIV
(www.amfar.org, 2013)

3. “
”
What are preventable risk factors
associated with HIV in the African
American community in the United States
Preventable Risks Factors
Protecting during Intercourse Housing
HIV testing Healthcare Promotion on HIV/AIDS
Optimal Healthcare access Healthcare coverage
HIV education Treatment for HIV/AIDS virus

4. There are various risks factors
associated with HIV including
RISKS FACTORS PRE-HIV
 ANAL SEX
 ORAL SEX
 LACK OF PROTECTION DURING
INTERCOURSE
 TESTING PARTNERS
 BISEXUAL MALES
 MALE ON MALE PARTNERSHIPS
PREVENTABLE RISKS
 HEALTHARE EDUCATION
 HEALTHCARE ACCESS
 HOUSING
 KNOWING ONES HIV STATUS
 DIALOGUE ON HIV IN THE
COMMUNITY

5. STUDY METHODOLOGY: 8 African American Churches in
D.C., with participants randomly selected ages13-30,with
weekly classes for eight weeks ,with signed informed
consents from all participants
 Objectives of CBPR
 Education on prevention of HIV via
pamphlets, group discussions,
power-point presentations, visual
aids and re-enactment of
situational peer related pressure.
 Pre testing on HIV transmission and
 Methods of protecting participant
health during intercourse
 Encourage abstinence among
minors
 Interventions during program:
 Education on sexual intercourse
 Promise rings to parents for those
under 18 years of age.
 Sexual protection devices and
usages
 Leadership from Pastor on
abstinence
 Preventing HIV

6. DATA ANALYSIS:
Assessed Risk Factors: Will be Measured Pre- and Post- Intervention
• Sexual Abstinence, Intercourse Protection devices
• Sexual Preference, Decrease in Sexual Partners among Participants
• Conduction of T-test: among Interventional/Educational groups 1-2
• Measureable changes in participant risk factor in interventional control group
3
• Regression Analysis: Control of Demographics during pre/post survey

7. Data Collection and Timeline of the Study
 Week One : Recruitment of participants
 Measured variables: age, gender, sexual preference, number
of sexual partners, protection during intercourse, HIV status if
known, and pre-survey completion
 Week 2: Final Measurements
 Prevention knowledge, sexual abstinence, decrease in sexual
promiscuous activity and post survey questionnaire.

8. Collaboration:
Researchers will
collaborate with local
church, Pastors, health
department and HIV
Support groups in the Area
of D.C. for pamphlets,
Also, localized drug addiction
centers and support groups will
be encouraged to collaborate
with church organizations
during research program for
volunteers along with church
family.

9. Common Risk Factors: healthcare access, housing, unknown HIV
status, poor healthcare promotion in community.
HIV is a National Problem: Prevention: Education, Healthcare,
• Increased mortality in AA community housing, abstinence
• Costs Billions of Dollars to U.S budgetary processes
• Washington, D.C . Has the highest rate of HIV infection
Conclusions: African American Interventional Community Based
Participatory Research Program in Faith Based Organizations in Washington,
D.C.