Overview of Project SEPA A six-session small group level intervention for heterosexually active Latinas. The intervention includes presentations, discussion, and skill- building activities on HIV and STD prevention, interpersonal communication, and domestic and intimate partner violence. Two hour sessions are facilitated by bilingual women with experience in disease prevention, health education, or risk reduction. Training of Facilitators Curriculum-Day 1 1

Latinos and HIV Males account for the largest proportion of AIDS cases reported among Latinos in the United States, with the primary mode of infection being male-to-male sexual contact. For adult and adolescent Latinas, heterosexual contact accounts for the largest proportion of AIDS cases, with many cases linked to sex with an injection drug user. Injection drug use is the second leading cause of HIV infection among U.S. Latinas. Training of Facilitators Curriculum-Day 1 2

Latinos and HIV In 2005, HIV/AIDS was the fourth leading cause of death among Hispanic/Latino men and women aged Other leading causes of illness and death included heart disease, cancer, unintentional injuries or accidents, stroke, and diabetes. Hispanics/Latinos comprise about 15 percent of the U.S. population but accounted for 19 percent of new AIDS diagnoses and 19 percent of all people living with AIDS in the 50 states and the District of Columbia in Training of Facilitators Curriculum-Day 1 3

Latinos and HIV Of all the cumulative AIDS cases reported to CDC through 2007, Hispanics/Latinos accounted for 19 percent of the total number of cases and 19 percent of the total number of AIDS cases among women. Training of Facilitators Curriculum-Day 1 4

Latinos and HIV Data suggest that Hispanics/Latinos born in Puerto Rico are more likely than other Hispanics/Latinos to contract HIV from injection drug use or high-risk heterosexual contact. Data suggest that sexual contact with other men is the primary cause of HIV infections among Hispanic/Latino men born in Central or South America, Cuba, Mexico, or the United States. Training of Facilitators Curriculum-Day 1 5

Cultural and Gender Specific Values Cultural and gender specific values that may put Latinas at risk for HIV include: – Marianismo – Machismo – Collectivism – Simpatía – Familialism – Respeto Training of Facilitators Curriculum-Day 1 6

Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) Social Cognitive Theory – Defines human behavior as the interaction of thoughts and feelings with behavior and the environment. – Maintains that a person is more likely to perform a behavior if he or she believes the behavior will have a positive outcome and if the person has confidence – or self-efficacy – to perform the behavior. Training of Facilitators Curriculum-Day 1 7