Preventing HIV/AIDS Among African American Women: Using Culturally Appropriate Strategies

Background and Purpose:African American women are at the forefront of health disparities, particularly in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Nationally. Notwithstanding HIV/AIDS, African Americans continue to experience disparities related to physical health and mental health outcomes as compared to the larger U.S. population. Although there is research examining HIV/AIDS prevention programs targeting African American women, there is a scant amount investigating how participants understand and create meaning from prevention interventions.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine how the participants of the Healer Women Fighting Disease Project (HEFD) in Austin, Texas gain understanding and develop meaning in relation to the intervention as described through their journals. The HEFD is an African-centered HIV prevention program that includes a general health component to address preventive health alongside HIV/AIDS prevention. One component of the intervention focused on sacred stones (i.e., Healing Stone) as a traditional African healing tool used for African American women’s health and mental health. 

Methods: This study utilizes qualitative data from the journals of women participating in the HEFD. A systematic random sample of the original 60 journals was used to select 20 journals for analysis (N=20). The selected journals were transcribed into word documents and coded using a combination of the various approaches to phenomenological analysis as described by Moustakas (1994). Phenomenology is well suited to gain essential understanding of the lived experiences from the participants’ perspective and using their own words and descriptions. 

Results: Several key themes emerged:

Faith: The participants in HWFD noted that spirituality was a significant part of their lives. They derived fulfillment and comfort from their religious practices and faith in God.

Authentic Self: The use of Afrocentric values and the connection to the collective self in a positive way facilitated the participant’s discovery of their authentic self.

Self Care: The stones held strong resonance for the women and strongly impacted their commitment to better health and mental health

Healing from Previous Pain: The participants in HWFD went through a process of healing by creating meaning from the  stones, self-reflecting and acknowledging their pain in the journals.

Purpose and Meaning: The collective experience among the participants was a powerful one, the lasting bonds that were formed and their new realities constructed allowed the women to see themselves and others as part of an “interdependent web” connected through their African culture and heritage. 

Conclusions and Implications: Results from this study provide a framework for understanding how African American women create meaning within the context of their African heritage, and the importance of incorporating African cultural values in the lives of African American women to promote, well-being, spirituality, healing, a sense of authentic self, and purpose and meaning. Prevention is critical to mitigate HIV/AIDS risk, therefore development of effective innovative interventions that are culturally relevant, which identify the risk and protective factors are needed. As health disparities continue to rise in this population, social workers are needed to develop Afrocentric and effective prevention programming to address this problem.