AEGiS-15IAC: Beyond Suzi Wong and Cio-Cio-San: Formative Research in the Development of Culturally Competent Public Information Campaigns Targeting Asian Pacific Islanders.

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

Beyond Suzi Wong and Cio-Cio-San: Formative Research in the Development of Culturally Competent Public Information Campaigns Targeting Asian Pacific Islanders.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. D10007)

Tagalicod RS, Hall V
Filipino Task Force on AIDS

ISSUES: HIV prevention efforts targeting Asian Pacific Islanders (API) in the US can be characterized as having adapted messages/images from existing campaigns targeting other racial/ethnic without regard to immediate social context; employed stereotypes or broad racial/ethnic typologies; and/or paid little attention to the effects of acculturation on immigrants.

DESCRIPTION: Over the last ten years, many US-based Asian and Pacific Islander (API) AIDS service organizations have teamed with community and university-based researchers to employ formative evaluation to develop more culturally appropriate HIV information campaigns and related interventions that target specific high-risk API subpopulations. Two on-going projects that have been conducted by the Filipino Task Force on AIDS since 1994 are Tambayan and Kaibigan at Pamilya. Interventions include public health campaigns and on-going support groups.

LESSONS LEARNED: (1) Preliminary interviews of support group members-who represent various cohorts of Filipino gay men and their partners of the last ten years-indicate that involvement of community members in the development and evaluation of these information campaigns improves the process, data, and outcomes of HIV prevention.(2) Formative research is not only a process to solicit data of community members but is a teaching opportunity to convey/reinforce prevention information to those who may not have regular access to such information. It is also a means to empower participants to become involved in HIV services planning, advocacy and future prevention activities.(3) Preliminary research also indicates that acculturation affects prevention outcomes as community idioms/values change over time, e.g., outcomes may differ between immigrants and US-born.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Further exploration is needed using qualitative methods, eg, cross-sectional analysis, to better document the effect and continued efficacy of community particpation in formative research and program design.

Keywords: AEGIS, Research, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Homosexuality, Male, Human Development, Asian Continental Ancestry Group, Asian Americans, HIV Seropositivity, Emigration and Immigration, Population Groups, Health Promotion, Cross-Sectional Studies, Humans, Male, growth & development

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D10007