Programmatic Capacity and HIV Structural Change Interventions: Influences on Coalitions' Success and Efficiency in Accomplishing Intermediate Outcomes

Abstract

This article assesses how programmatic capacity affects coalitions' ability to achieve structural HIV prevention interventions. The focus of the analysis was on the structural changes developed (n = 304) at all coalitions involved in Connect to Protect® between early 2006 through the end of 2008. Data included records of coalitions' structural change objectives and the progress made toward their accomplishment. For the current study, we divided objectives into two periods: those created before 2008 (n = 201) and those created from January 2008 through December 2008 (n = 103). In addition to becoming more structurally focused, C2P coalitions are becoming more efficient and most individual coalitions are becoming more successful. Findings highlight the benefit of creating high quality, strategic structural change objectives. Future research should investigate other influences that impede or facilitate the implementation of structural change HIV prevention interventions.

KEYWORDS:

• coalitions
• HIV prevention
• programmatic capacity
• structural interventions

Notes

Note. Percentages may not add up to 100% because objectives at each time are still active.

Note. *p<.001. df=137 for all analyses. Standard deviations are in parentheses below means.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

The Adolescent Medicine Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions

The Adolescent Medicine Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions (ATN) and Connect to Protect® were supported by grants U01 HD40533 and U01 HD40474 from the National Institutes of Health through the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development with supplemental funding from the National Institutes on Drug Abuse and Mental Health. Additional grants that supported this work at the ATN sites include: Children's Diagnostic and Treatment Center: U01 HD040476; Children's Hospital of Los Angeles: U01 HD040463; Children's National Medical Center: U01 HD040562; John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County and the CORE Center: U01 HD040515; Montefiore Medical Center: U01 HD040499; Mount Sinai Medical Center: U01 HD040505; Tulane University Health Sciences Center: U01 HD040470; University of California at San Francisco: U01 HD040506; University of Maryland: U01 HD040584; University of Miami School of Medicine: U01 HD040494; University of Pennsylvania and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: U01 HD040481; University of Puerto Rico: U01 HD040490; and University of South Florida: U01 HD040497. The authors thank the investigators and staff of the ATN listed in Harper, Willard, and Ellen's (2012 [this issue]) “Connect to Protect®: Utilizing Community Mobilization and Structural Change to Prevent HIV Infection Among Youth” for their valuable contributions to this project.