Latinas por la Salud is an HIV prevention intervention for Latina women in New York City. It targets HIV negative women between the ages of 18 and 50. Through guided discussion groups the program aims to:
- Improve participants’ knowledge about HIV-AIDS and other sexual transmitted diseases.
- Provide participants with tools to address HIV risk at the personal, family and community level.
- Increase participants’ self-esteem to engage in behaviors that will help them to have a pleasurable and healthy sexual life.
- Refer participants to other social or health services, according to their needs.
How does the program take place?
- In small (10-15 participant) closed groups settings, that are safe and supportive for women. The group meets once a week, during 12 weeks.
- The sessions take place in a community center and are either in English or Spanish, based on the needs or the group.
- In each session participants receive food, a metrocard and childcare for their children.
- The program ends with a formal graduation and participants receive an economic incentive for completing all the sessions.
- To assess the effectiveness of the program, an anonymous and confidential survey is administered at 3 points during the intervention (baseline, post, and 3 month follow-up.)
- Each participant provides informed consent prior to participating in the intervention.
Who conducts the groups? What topics are discussed?
- The sessions are facilitated by a professional heath educator who is fully bilingual.
- The curriculum includes sessions related to HIV-AIDS, sexual transmitted diseases and topics that influence our sexual behavior like culture, gender identity, self-esteem, body image and women’s sexuality, immigration, partner violence, substance abuse, economics and community leadership.
