Mary ClisbeeFollow

Deans

H.Wells Singleton, Ph.D. – Abraham S. Fischler School of Education

Award Date

1-1-2015

Abstract

Haiti, a mere 680 miles off the coast of South Florida, has the highest HIV rate in the western hemisphere, second only to that of the highest infection rate in the world found in sub-Saharan Africa. Educational programs reduce the rate of new infection. These programs should target the children and young adults who live in households with a person infected with HIV. School attendance is low in rural Haiti, therefore this education must come from the local community-based HIV treatment clinics. Plateau Central, a rural, mountainous region located north of Port au Prince is the poorest region of the country, with the highest illiteracy rate and HIV infection rate. HIV clinics exist, but vary greatly in the services they provide. One such community-based program in Plateau Central combines outreach, diagnostic services, treatment and education. Model programs in developing nations like Haiti include a prevention component targeting the education of children prior to their becoming sexually active. The clinic has expressed interest in expanding and improving the educational component of their program. To assist in the development of their curriculum we must first understand what currently exists and the needs of the community. There has been only limited research conducted about HIV educational programs in developing nations. Furthermore, although there have been primary prevention educational materials created in other developing nations we have found none created specifically considering the Haitian context. This purpose of this qualitative study is to understand, analyze, and describe this community based HIV clinic, with a particular emphasis on building an understanding of the educational component of the program. Recommendations will be made in the final report about how the clinic could improve their educational component. Data will be gathered through interview, field notes, and archival data. Participants will include staff from the HIV clinic.

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