My Sister, Myself

Abstract

African American women are bearing an excess burden of HIV/AIDS, becoming infected at a rate 25 times that of White American women. This places African American girls at the highest risk for becoming infected with HIV/AIDS. Culturally appropriate prevention strategies are indicated to suppress this trend. Two qualitative research methods were used to evaluate a culture- and gender-based HIV prevention intervention: My Sister, Myself. Community action participatory research was used to engage the community in the development of the intervention for early-adolescent girls. Eight girls participated in the 8-week intervention. Data were collected about culture and gender identification, sexual health knowledge, and future intentions throughout the intervention. Focus groups and observation participation data revealed three major themes: “high aspirations,” “needing to know the truth,” and “internal, external, and eternal resources.” Findings indicate promise for intervention strategies that utilize culture- and gender-based strategies for HIV/AIDS prevention with young girls.