Utilization of Minority Peer Treatment Educators for HIV/AIDS Primary Care.
Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. D10096)
Martin E Jr, Wainwright W US Public Health Service, Rockville, United States
Despite significant advancements over the past decade in the number and clinical outcomes of treatment options for HIV infection, minority communities in the United States continue to be most impacted by HIV/AIDS. Multiple strategies are needed to address this public health crisis and to close the gap on disparate care and outcomes for minority HIV-infected populations. Utilization of peer treatment educators to provide education and support regarding treatment and treatment-related barriers is one such strategy. When properly trained, peer educators are best equipped to assist people, who are infected or affected by HIV, to access and remain in care, through outreach, education, and advocacy services. Since Minority Peer Treatment Educators are culturally similar to the people that they work with, they are uniquely qualified to encourage HIV positive persons in their racial/ethnic communities to get tested for HIV; participate in services provided by local AIDS service organizations; adhere to treatment recommendations, understand their health care options; seek regular primary care for themselves and their families; and educate them about the sexual and/or drug-using behaviors that put them at risk for HIV. They also perform outreach activities designed to find HIV positive persons not in care-often in community locations that most professional health workers may feel uncomfortable or unwelcome in such places where drugs are actively used. Within the health care setting, they are able to establish HIV support gro ups, participate as a member of the HIV patient care team and assist in educating clients about their HIV medications. Results on a pilot peer treatment educator project, and information on other peer training models will be presented as a strategy designed to bring and retain more minorities living with HIV/AIDS into care by training minority peers treatment educators from racial/ethnic communities.
Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Seropositivity, HIV Infections, Peer Group, Primary Health Care, Counseling, Teaching, Organizations, Ethnic Groups, Infection, Health Planning Guidelines, Interpersonal Relations, Delivery of Health Care, United States, Humans, therapy, education
