Identifying the motivations of African American volunteers working to prevent HIV/AIDS

Community-based organizations that are engaged in HIV/AIDS prevention and support services often rely on volunteers. This article describes the development of a 22-item inventory that measures the motivations of volunteers who deliver HIV prevention education in the African American community. In a statewide survey of volunteers (N = 102), the two strongest motivations for volunteer activity were concern for the African American community and a desire to understand the causes and consequences of the epidemic. These motives predicted the frequency that volunteers held discussions about HIV/AIDS with members of their community. Discussion focuses on the relevance of the results for the recruitment, training, and retention of volunteers.