Group-level interventions for persons living with HIV: a catalyst for individual change

This study describes the perceived influence of group-level HIV interventions on persons living with HIV in Los Angeles, California. Funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and developed by a broad range of community organizations, group-level interventions ranged from small skills-building workshops to large educational forums and to intensive weekend gatherings. Recognizing the relationship between psychosocial factors and HIV-related risk taking, these interventions were designed not only to provide HIV prevention education and develop risk reduction skills but also to bring people together to facilitate the formation of supportive relationships. The formative data presented here are based on 35 qualitative interviews conducted with a sample of intervention participants. Interviews highlight the experiential opportunities that group interventions offer with respect to HIV knowledge, social support, HIV disclosure skills, and HIV risk reductions. Participants talked highly of their experiences in group-level interventions, suggesting that they should be considered an important prevention strategy for people living with HIV.