Overcoming Health Disparities in the Bay Area using HIV/AIDS as a - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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A theatrical performance group intervention empowers HIV-positive women to publicly disclose their HIV status: A qualitative analysis of the process, the experience of writing, and the impact

Overcoming Health Disparities in the Bay Area using HIV/AIDS as a Model May 23, 2012

Kristen Capito UCSF, Women’s HIV Program Carol Dawson-Rose UCSF, School of Nursing Starr Hilliard UCSF, Global Health Sciences Edward L. Machtinger UCSF, School of Medicine Sonja M. Ray UCSF, School of Nursing

Introduction and Methods

 Stigma, isolation, and nondisclosure contribute to

poor health outcomes among HIV-positive women

 Expressive therapy and HIV-disclosure are linked to

improved psychological and physiological health

• utcomes

 A qualitative study described and evaluated a

theatrical performance group intervention

Video Clip – Blood

Participant Demographics

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HIV status: 8 HIV-positive, 7 HIV-negative

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Race: 46% African American

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Age: 23-65 years old (mean = 45, SD = 11.7)

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Education: all earned a high school diploma

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Number of years since HIV diagnosis: 1 to 24 years (mean = 13, SD = 8)

Formation of Community Writing Movement Personal Transformation Performance

Results – Process

The Role of the Leader – The Power to “Show Up”

Results – Experience of Writing

Confronting the Challenge of Writing Private Personal Exploration Reading the Writing to the Group

Sample Writing Prompts Living with HIV How did you find

• ut that you have

HIV? Identity How did you arrive at this place? Relationships What is the difference between sex and intimacy?

Results – Impact

Personal Transformation Developing a Sense of Purpose Normalizing HIV Decreasing Isolation Forming Relationships

“As cliché as it sounds, it also just emphasized that you're [name], you just happen to be positive. You're not positive and your name is [name].” (P11)

Conclusions