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Barriers to Prevention Programs
Hispanics, The "Umbrella Term"
Barriers to Prevention Program
Barriers to Prevention Programs
Stigma
The term HIV or AIDS still carries with it a stigma. Unfortunately, this barrier is especially strong in the Hispanic community (5). This is because HIV/AIDS tends to go hand in hand with MSM or IDU, both of which are still considered taboo topics. Among the youth in general, those afflicted with HIV find it extremely difficult to be honest with others. The stigma attached to HIV/AIDS is so severe that some are willing to not take medications (6).
Religion
The majority of Puerto Ricans identify themselves as Roman Catholic (13). Catholicism is known for its strong emphasis on male dominance and strength. This ideology, often referred to as machismo, is another barrier when it comes to HIV/AIDS. This is because inevitable the topic of HIV/AIDS must mention MSM, which the Catholic Church strongly opposes. This, in conjunction with the high amount of Puerto Ricans (and most Hispanics for that matter) who affiliate themselves with the church, creates a barrier when attempting to communicate on the issue of HIV/AIDS.
(F) 
(G)
Distrust of Government
Hispanics in the United States, and many minorities for that matter, have a distinct distrust with the government (5). Some strongly believe the government had a role in the AIDS epidemic and that the epidemic was intentional. Others even believe that a cure is there, but that the U.S government is making a substantial amount of money by keeping it from the public. It is these beliefs that must be handled in order to fully reach out to the Hispanic community.
Language Barrier/Health Care
There is a definitive barrier between cultures that is augmented by the language barrier. It is evident that not being able to speak English discourages many Hispanics from seeking Health Care (8). This becomes especially dangerous when combined with the high rates of HIV/AIDS in the Hispanic community. If Hispanics are rapidly contracting HIV, and not seeking medical help, the epidemic is only intensified.
(E)
(D)
AIDS Community Resources
Before attempting to formulate a prevention program, it is crucial to gain knowledge over already established programs in Onondaga County. The AIDS Community Resources organization has been one of the longest running organizations that handle HIV/AIDS in the area. Established in 1983 (during the emergence of the AIDS epidemic), it has continued to proved a multitude of services to not only Onondaga, but also Lawrence, Madison, Oneida, and Cayuga County (9). These services include syringe exchange programs, outreach programs, bilingual case managers, soup kitchens, HIV focus groups/testing and more. Furthermore, transportation is provided through the organization which means that getting access to health care is not an issue. One notable aspect of this organization is its location. Previous research tells us that the majority of Hispanics are situated in 13204. So is AIDS Community Resources.
(H)
Though the ACR may be well established, it was still important to gain more information about their programs. An interview with Joanne Jimenez, the director of the Bilingual Case Manager Program highlighted some flaws within the organization. For one, there is a lack of Bilingual Case Managers to deal with the Hispanic community (9). When asked to elaborate on this issue, the point made was that any amount of bilingual case managers was helpful. A second notable issue was their lack of programs targeted toward middle school students in the zip code 13204. These issues will be elaborated more later on. These flaws also give way for the basis of my prevention program.