A strategy for improving community effectiveness of HIV/AIDS intervention design: the Community Readiness Model in the Caribbean

Subst Use Misuse. 2007;42(10):1579-92. doi: 10.1080/10826080701212535.

Abstract

The Community Readiness Model (CR) offers a solution to the development of prevention strategies at the community level that makes use of community collaborations and community capacity. CR was administered in the U.S. Virgin Islands on St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John. All three islands scored lowest on dimensions of community climate and highest on knowledge of efforts to fight HIV/AIDS. The findings suggest that initial intervention efforts should improve the community climate of HIV/AIDS denial and stigma prior to introducing interventions that address HIV/AIDS risk behaviors. Community collaborators identify the interplay of social, structural, and political-economic factors for effective prevention.

MeSH terms

  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / epidemiology
  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / prevention & control*
  • Caribbean Region / epidemiology
  • Community Health Services / methods
  • Community Health Services / organization & administration*
  • Cooperative Behavior
  • Data Collection / statistics & numerical data
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology
  • HIV Infections / prevention & control*
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Humans
  • Models, Organizational
  • Primary Prevention / methods
  • Primary Prevention / organization & administration*
  • Program Development / methods
  • Program Evaluation
  • Risk-Taking
  • United States Virgin Islands / epidemiology