What's God got to do with it? Engaging African-American faith-based institutions in HIV prevention

Abstract

African-Americans are disproportionately infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. Although faith-based institutions play critical leadership roles in the African-American community, the faith-based response to HIV/AIDS has historically been lacking. We explore recent successful strategies of a citywide HIV/AIDS awareness and testing campaign developed in partnership with 40 African-American faith-based institutions in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a city with some of the USA's highest HIV infection rates. Drawing on important lessons from the campaign and subsequent efforts to sustain the campaign's momentum with a citywide HIV testing, treatment and awareness programme, we provide a road map for engaging African-American faith communities in HIV prevention that includes partnering with faith leaders, engaging the media to raise awareness, destigmatising HIV/AIDS and encouraging HIV testing, and conducting educational and HIV testing events at houses of worship. African-American faith-based institutions have a critical role to play in raising awareness about the HIV/AIDS epidemic and reducing racial disparities in HIV infection.

Keywords:

• African-Americans
• HIV/AIDS
• health disparities
• faith community
• clergy
• pastors

Acknowledgements

Development of this manuscript was supported by the MAC AIDS Fund, grant numbers K01 AA020228–01A1 from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health (NIAAA/NIH) and grant number P30-AI-42853 from the National Institutes of Health, Center for AIDS Research (NIH/CFAR). None of the aforementioned agencies had any design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis and interpretation of the data; and preparation, review or approval of the manuscript.