African American men: the ideal AIDS program

Because designing programs based on an understanding of the target population's perceptions, expectations, and experiences is not only beneficial but feasible, a convenience sample of 17 African American men who have sex with men attended one of four focus groups to identify the needs of AIDS clients and what constitutes an ideal AIDS program. These men articulated what they needed and expected from the health care system. These needs and expectations should be incorporated into program planning to promote a more productive relationship between provider and providee and, thus, more efficacious programs. Their needs are competent comprehensive health care, adequate funds, and emotional support to enhance inner strength to cope with dying and death, dependency, and uncertainty. The ideal AIDS program would be holistic, providing health care needs as well as financial, social, emotional, and familial needs by means of both traditional and alternative treatments.