SAHARA: Sistas Accessing HIV/AIDS Resources At a click
Investigators: Ralph DiClemente, Gina Wingood, Deja Hunger, Tamara Kuhn, Tabitha Benner, Julie Solomon, & Josefina J. Card

SAHARA is an interactive, computer-based intervention that is gender relevant and culturally sensitive for African-American women, ages 18-29. Designed for implementation in clinical or community-based settings, the two-session interactive, intervention emphasizes ethnic and gender pride, HIV risk-reduction information, sexual negotiation skills, proper condom use, and development of partner norms supportive of consistent condom use. Social cognitive theory and the theory of gender and power provide the intervention's theoretical foundation.

Throughout the two 60-90-minute sessions, the curriculum focuses on how gender roles, commitment to a relationship, and a woman's lack of power in a relationship may affect her ability (and willingness) to implement consistent HIV risk reduction behaviors. Each session offers multimedia learning, games and quizzes to help viewers increase and reinforce their risk-reduction awareness, knowledge, and skills. Women interact with the computer-based intervention individually and at their own speed. Only minimal staff participation is needed to implement SAHARA.

A recent efficacy study confirms SAHARA's success; participants were more knowledgeable about HIV/STI knowledge and reported more condom-protected sex behaviors than a control group three-months post-intervention. Two versions of SAHARA are available for purchase: SAHARA Individual is designed to be given to partcipants to use at a location of their choosing. SAHARA Professional is the kit for health educators. It includes a User's Guide with background information on SAHARA, a Facilitator's Manual for an optional facilitated small group discussion and the SAHARA program on a USB flash drive.

System Requirements: To run the software you will need a Windows computer equipped with: 400MB free hard drive space; 1Ghz processor or higher; 512MB or more RAM; You must have administrator privileges to run and install programs on your PC; USB drive if purchasing the USB version; Speakers or headphones (for privacy); Adobe Acrobat Reader 7+, Microsoft Word compatible word processing software; Printer.

Note: TrueCrypt software, included as part of the SAHARA program, is essential for running the program, and must be authorized by your organization's IT department. If you are unsure if TrueCrypt software is authorized, please check with your IT Department before purchasing.