Implementation of Evidence-Based HIV Interventions for Young Adult African American Women in Church Settings

Abstract

Objective: To assess the barriers and facilitators to using African American churches as sites for implementation of evidence-based HIV interventions among young African American women. Design: Mixed methods cross-sectional design. Setting: African American churches in Philadelphia, PA. Participants: 142 African American pastors, church leaders, and young adult women ages 18 to 25. Methods: Mixed methods convergent parallel design. Results: The majority of young adult women reported engaging in high-risk HIV-related behaviors. Although church leaders reported willingness to implement HIV risk-reduction interventions, they were unsure of how to initiate this process. Key facilitators to the implementation of evidence-based interventions included the perception of the leadership and church members that HIV interventions were needed and that the church was a promising venue for them. A primary barrier to implementation in this setting is the perception that discussions of sexuality should be private. Conclusion: Implementation of evidence-based HIV interventions for young adult African American women in church settings is feasible and needed. Building a level of comfort in discussing matters of sexuality and adapting existing evidence-based interventions to meet the needs of young women in church settings is a viable approach for successful implementation.