HAPPA Program Archive HAP01

The SISTA Project: A Peer-Led Program to Prevent HIV Infection among African-American Young Adult Women
Ralph DiClemente and Gina Wingood

SISTA, a gender-relevant, culturally sensitive group program for African-American women, is designed to be implemented in a community setting. Based on social cognitive theory and the theory of gender and power, SISTA seeks to prevent HIV transmission by promoting consistent condom use. Peer Health Educators lead five two-hour sessions, focusing first on ethnic and gender pride, then moving on to provide knowledge about HIV/AIDS and skills training to promote sexual safety. Each session employs group discussion, lecture, role play activities and written homework to increase retention of risk reduction strategies.