HIV/STD Prevention Guidelines for Native American Communities: American Indians, Alaska Natives, & Native Hawaiians

Abstract

These guidelines represent the first national document for HIV/STD prevention among Native American communities. The goal in the development of these guidelines was to reflect the perspectives of a diverse group of HIV/STD preven-tion specialists in Native communities, which include American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians. Leaders in HIV/STD prevention in Native communities were identified and invited to a consultation meeting at Indiana University, Bloomington, in August 2002. This meeting was sponsored by the Rural Center for HIV/STD Prevention, Indiana University, Bloomington, in collaboration with the National Native American AIDS Prevention Center, Oakland, California. These key leaders comprised the Guidelines Task Force. In response to the increasing threat of HIV/STD among Native communities, the task force members identified essential components of preventive strategies unique to their communities. These valuable contributions are the components of the guidelines. Following the consultation meeting, the editors developed the text for the guidelines, bringing together the voices of the Guidelines Task Force members. Finally, the material produced by the editors was approved by the Guidelines Task Force members. These guidelines provide a framework to create HIV/STD prevention programs tailored to Native American persons, reflecting the unique culture of Native com-munities. The guidelines provide a starting point for program development at the local level.