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The Context of HIV Risk Among Drug Users and Their Sexual Partners

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the change agent may be a crucial factor in promoting change (National<br />

Institute <strong>of</strong> Mental Health 1992). Interventions must take realities <strong>of</strong><br />

women’s lives into consideration, for example, by providing<br />

transportation <strong>and</strong> childcare. Interventions for couples, or at least ones<br />

that involve the partner to some degree, must be developed. <strong>The</strong>re is a<br />

need for innovative prevention programs <strong>and</strong> programs that capitalize on<br />

cultural strengths. Intervention will be more effective if provided within<br />

community sources such as community-based organizations,<br />

neighborhood groups, or tenant groups. Formal or informal community<br />

leaders should be involved in prevention efforts. Alternative education<br />

strategies such as “telenovelas,” street theater, <strong>and</strong> Spanish-language<br />

radio <strong>and</strong> television programs also should be considered.<br />

<strong>The</strong> cohesion <strong>and</strong> mutual caring that exist within the families <strong>and</strong><br />

communities <strong>of</strong> African-American <strong>and</strong> Hispanic individuals can be used<br />

to advantage in AIDS prevention. Mays <strong>and</strong> Cochran (1988) have<br />

suggested that prevention approaches for ethnic minority individuals<br />

should focus on the individual as a responsible member <strong>of</strong> a familial or<br />

social network. Recent work by Kelly <strong>and</strong> colleagues (1991, 1992) in<br />

gay communities has demonstrated the promise <strong>of</strong> diffusion <strong>of</strong> innovation<br />

models for AIDS prevention; this approach seems well-suited to the<br />

socially cohesive Hispanic community as well.<br />

<strong>The</strong>re is a crucial need for education <strong>and</strong> services related to violence <strong>and</strong><br />

domestic abuse as well as creation <strong>of</strong> alternatives to remaining in abusive<br />

relationships. AIDS prevention efforts must address issues <strong>of</strong> abuse if<br />

they are to be effective <strong>and</strong> maintain the safety <strong>of</strong> the women they are<br />

trying to reach.<br />

<strong>The</strong>re is also a need to document behavioral changes other than condom<br />

use that women may be using in the belief, correct or incorrect, that they<br />

may decrease risk. Behaviors involving partner selection, use <strong>of</strong><br />

withdrawal, antibody testing, <strong>and</strong> sexual history-taking (O’Leary et al.<br />

1992) may be tried in response to AIDS prevention messages; these<br />

behaviors need to be both documented <strong>and</strong> studied for effectiveness. A<br />

great need also exists for research on woman-controlled technologies for<br />

AIDS prevention.<br />

74

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