An HIV/AIDS education and prevention model for southeast Asian gang youth: A program development
Author(s):
Moench, Paul Arthur
Format:
Thesis
Degree granted:
Psy.D.
Publisher:
Ann Arbor : California School of Professional Psychology - Fresno, 1996.
Pages:
102
Language:
English
Abstract:
Recent reports have suggested that gang membership is related to behaviors that are high risk for HIV infection, including injection drug use, multiple sex partners, decreased condom use, self-mutilation, and tattooing. The goals of this project were to develop a peer education program assessing HIV knowledge, attitude, and behavioral intent among Laotian, Hmong, and Cambodian gang-affiliated adolescent males, ages 13 to 17, and their parents, in Fresno, California. Parents are included because of the strong family connection and influence they exert on their offspring. Research is reviewed concerning the relationship between preventive and educational efforts in other adolescent populations and high-risk behaviors, as are cultural issues that might present obstacles to program implementation. Cognitive-behavioral skills training and self-efficacy frameworks are proposed for the basis of this model intervention. Extant surveys assessing knowledge, attitude, and behavioral intent (KAB) for HIV/AIDS were deemed inappropriate for this population and, consequently, focus groups were used to enhance two extant surveys (parent and adolescent) that would be used to detect statistically significant differences on measures of knowledge, attitude, and behavioral intent for HIV/AIDS if this project were implemented. Each participant would be initially accessed through Juvenile Hall, complete a pretest/posttest KAB immediately before and after an education intervention, and complete follow-up intervention/posttests at 2-month intervals for 6 months. Focus group data indicated that for parents a modified KAB survey, peer administered in private and translated into the respective language would be an effective initial method to influence knowledge, attitude, and behavioral intent for HIV/AIDS. For adolescents, focus group data revealed a modified KAB survey would also be a useful method to influence knowledge, attitude, and behavioral intent for HIV/AIDS.