HIV PREVENTION IN US ASIAN-PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITIES - AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH

Pew HN prevention efforts have focused on Asian Pacific Islander commu nities in the United States. Prevention messages developed for the gen eral U.S. population have failed to reach many Asian Pacific Islanders . This article describes the development of an HN prevention strategy for Asian Pacific Islanders through health care workers. This strategy was based on the ecological disease theory and action research method ology. The prevention program comprised four components: (1) a symposi um for the health cave workers, (2) a culturally sensitive and appropr iate HIV-related video for the health care workers and their patients, (3) ongoing training of the health cave providers, and (4) ongoing li aison and consultative services for the health cave providers. The int ervention is intended to encourage HN risk-reduction behaviors among t he patients, to encourage the HIV testing of those who may be at risk for HIV, and to facilitate access to services for those found to be in fected.