Module 4: Foundation of a Prevention Program

Goal of Module 4: To provide methods, examples, and tools with which to carry out your HIV/AIDS prevention program.

In order to provide an effective HIV prevention intervention for Native people, you will need to lay a strong community foundation and apply intervention programs in a culturally meaningful way. One option is to tailor existing interventions to fit the unique needs of your Native community. This module includes an overview of program components, information on CDC’s Advancing HIV Prevention Initiative, descriptions of evidence-based interventions, and an introduction to storytelling as a prevention strategy.
Contents 2b Advocating HIV Prevention in Your Community
1. Components of a Comprehensive Prevention Program:

2. Advancing HIV Prevention Initiative:
3. Evidence-Based Interventions:
4. Introduction to Storytelling as a Prevention Strategy:

You can work with local health departments and tribal healthcare facilities to improve HIV testing in your community. If it is not feasible to perform HIV testing onsite because your clinic is small or resources are limited in your area, then have a good referral system in place. Visit http://www.hivtest.org/ to find an HIV test site in your area.

National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

In 2006, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) passed a resolution declaring March 21st National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day—an ideal opportunity for you to advocate HIV prevention in your community. The National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day seeks to create a greater awareness of the risk of HIV/AIDS to Native communities, to improve HIV testing resources and treatment options, and to eventually decrease HIV/AIDS among Native people. Consider hosting activities, holding education sessions, and distributing fact sheets and other information to the public. NNAAPC prepared a Media Toolkit specifically for the National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day—you can access it here. For additional information, you can also visit CDC’s online resource, Spotlight: National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.

HIV Rapid Testing

What Is Rapid HIV Testing?
A rapid HIV test is a test that usually produces results in up to 20 minutes. (In comparison, results from a traditional HIV-antibody screening test take 1-2 weeks.) There are currently four rapid HIV tests licensed for use in the United States:

  1. OraQuick Rapid HIV-1 and Advance HIV ½ Antibody Tests, manufactured by OraSure Technologies, Inc.
  2. Reveal G2 HIV-Antibody Tests, manufactured by MedMira, Inc.
  3. Multispot, manufactured by Bio-Rad Laboratories
  4. Uni-Gold Recombigen, manufactured by Trinity Biotech

Rapid HIV blood tests are considered to be just as accurate as other HIV-antibody screening tests.6 The rapid tests eliminate the need for people to return to the test site at a later time to retrieve their test results. Rapid testing is easier to use in community settings than are traditional testing methods. Ultimately, the result of rapid testing is that more people get tested for HIV, more people receive their test results, and more people enter into care.7 For more information on rapid HIV testing, click here.

6Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The National HIV Testing Resources page. Available at: http://www.hivtest.org/subindex.cfm?FuseAction=FAQ. Accessed February 21, 2007.

7Health Resources and Services Administration. HRSA CAREAction: Providing HIV/AIDS Care in a Changing Environment; August 2005. Available at: http://hab.hrsa.gov/publications/august2005.htm. Accessed February 21, 2007.