Velmarie Albertini
Florida Atlantic University
777 Glades Road
Boca Raton FL 33431
USA
Phone: 954.236.1281
Email: albertin@fau.edu
 
This research focuses upon an ethnographic study that explored the experiences of Haitians living with HIV/AIDS in relation to access and barriers to health-care. Originally, a local health-planning council contacted the two lead researchers (both of non-Haitian and non-American nationalities) to conduct this study. The council did not have any researchers from the Haitian American community, so the lead researchers put together a research team including Haitian social work students who could conduct interviews in Creole, English, and French, as well as partner with members of the Haitian community in a manner that could not be achieved with non-Haitian researchers. The lead researchers took the roles of educators and coaches, working in partnership with the students and community to ensure that the research methods were culturally appropriate. The paper-presentation will cover the following:

• Presenting problem – exploratory research that led to this more in-depth study
• Overview of literature regarding access to health-care and other HIV/AIDS-related issues within the Haitian community (Portes, Kyle & Eaton, 1992; Stepick, Stepick & Kretsedemas, 2001)
• Research methods, including how social work students were brought in as research partners to help conduct this ethnographic research (LeCompte & Schensul, 1999), using a participatory action approach (Holter & Schwartz-Barcott, 1993)
• Findings: summary of the voices of 150 Haitian Americans concerning positive experiences and difficulties in obtaining access to appropriate health-care, as well as suggestions for improvements; critical themes.
• Implications of involving students in research related to their own ethnocultural community.

This research is significant because it demonstrates a method of engaging a vulnerable community concerning a health problem that has very high stigma attached to it from a cultural perspective. The results of the study will be used to affect policy and program development for Haitians living with AIDS/HIV.

Bibliography:

Alcide Haitian Mental Health Center (Accessed Feb. 2003). The culturally-competent and linguistically-appropriate mental health service delivery model for Haitians living with HIV/AIDS. Available online: http://www.ccher.org/mentalcouseling.html.

Broward Regional Health Planning Council (2002).  Report of findings: Survey of people living with HIV/AIDS.  Fort Lauderdale, FL: Author. (Ryan White Grant)

Center for Haitian Studies (Accessed Feb. 2003). HIV/AIDS. Available online: http://www.haitianstudies.org.

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