Hispanic Families Learning and Teaching About AIDS: A Participatory Approach at the Community Level

An AIDS research/education prevention strategy based on story telling and problem solving is being used with Hispanic families in Detroit, Michiganm The community worker tells stories involving AIDS and risk behaviors, whose central characters are children. Participants raise thematic questions and give advice to the characters. Through analysis and discussion the families explore their own knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors aboutAIDS as well as different ways of talking with their children about often delicate matters. Results are incorporated in educational materials. Follow-up activities are carried out and support is provided to facilitate the development ofAIDS prevention strategies.