Eliminating disparities in HIV disease: community mobilization to prevent HIV transmission among Black and Hispanic young adults in Broward County, Florida

Abstract

A coalition led by public health professionals adopted the PRECEDE-PROCEED model for community planning and health promotion to eliminate local disparities in HIV disease. Discussion groups and other formative evaluation activities conducted during the first year of the project maximized input from community members and community-based organizations. Twelve of 53 ZIP-code areas, which accounted for 73% of reported AIDS cases among Black and Hispanic young adults (18 to 39 years) from 1994 through 1999, were selected as the primary sites for intervention. Horizontal outreach to residents, vertical outreach to stakeholders and gatekeepers, strategic communications, and capacity building and infrastructure development, were chosen as the most promising activities to promote behavioral and social change. Results from baseline computer-assisted telephone-interview (CATI) surveys completed with 2,011 community residents in 2001, and first-year follow-up interviews with 2,381 in 2002, indicated that: awareness of program efforts had increased from 5.4% in 2001 to 6.7% in 2002; recognition of the extent of the HIV/AIDS problem had increased from 27.5% in 2001 to 35.3% in 2002; and participation in HIV-prevention efforts had increased significantly. Interventions are reaching the target audience, informing young adults of the risks of HIV infection, and encouraging them to take ownership and action.