Family-Based HIV Prevention with African American and Hispanic Youth

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of the HIV literature on African American and Hispanic adolescents in three areas: prevalence, etiology, and family-based preventive interventions. An extant research indicates that African American and Hispanic adolescents are at particularly high risk of engaging in HIV risky sexual behaviors. Culture and family processes play a salient role in the prevention of HIV risky sexual behaviors among both African Americans and Hispanics. Despite the elevated rates of HIV risky sexual behaviors and the importance of culture and family, there is a dearth of culturally specific family interventions designed to prevent HIV among these populations. The chapter also provides an overview of efficacious culturally specific family-based HIV preventive intervention for these populations and highlights some considerations for those interested in conducting family-based HIV prevention work with African American and Hispanic adolescents.