Love with No Exceptions: A Statewide Faith-Based, University-Community Partnership for Faith-Based HIV Training and Assessment of Needs in the Deep South.

This project established a faith-based, university-community partnership with the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) church in Alabama to develop a statewide training model to address HIV knowledge and stigma, promote discussion and generate action plans to address HIV in the Deep South. A community-engaged research team consisting of church leadership and university researchers developed and implemented the model, "Love with No Exceptions." Mixed methods were used to evaluate the model delivered in 3-h sessions in five state regions (N = 146 clergy and laity). The majority of participants reported feeling better prepared to serve those living with or affected by HIV and would implement education and awareness activities in their churches. Participants' HIV knowledge increased from pre- to post-training. Stigma-related attitudes showed minor changes from baseline. These results reflect that partnerships between academic institutions and churches can deliver promising steps towards impactful HIV education in the Deep South.

Universal Screening for HIV and Hepatitis C Infection: A Community-Based Pilot Project.

INTRODUCTION: Black men in the Deep South have been disproportionally affected by high HIV and hepatitis C virus infection rates. Conventional clinic-based screening approaches have had limited success in reaching those with undiagnosed HIV or hepatitis C virus infection. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the acceptability, feasibility, and best practices of an integrated HIV and hepatitis C virus community-based health screening approach. METHODS: The study used a mixed methods approach: focus group discussion, individual interviews, and surveys that assessed perceptions, perspectives, and HIV and hepatitis C virus awareness among six communities across Alabama and Mississippi. Data were collected and analyzed in 2014-2017. RESULTS: Although HIV and hepatitis C virus knowledge was limited among community members surveyed, the results of this study suggest that (1) using an integrated, community-based HIV and hepatitis C virus testing approach is acceptable and feasible; (2) formation of a community advisory board is a key element of successful community mobilization; (3) education and training of community members on disease-specific topics and overcoming stigma are essential; and (4) focus on and inclusion of young community members will be critical for the sustainability of screening efforts. CONCLUSIONS: Including and engaging communities at risk for HIV and hepatitis C virus infection in prevention research is a promising strategy to overcome existing barriers of stigma and discrimination. Integration of HIV and hepatitis C virus testing in universal health screening efforts utilizing a Community Health Advisors model encourages unbiased communication with a focus on overall community health. Community health advisors are recognized as important agents in this effort. SUPPLEMENT INFORMATION: This article is part of a supplement entitled African American Men's Health: Research, Practice, and Policy Implications, which is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health.