Abstract

TORRES LOPEZ, Lorna D.  and  SERRANO-GARCIA, Irma. Protestant churches in Puerto Rico facing HIV/AIDS: opinions of religious leaders of two denominations. Interam. j. psychol. [online]. 2007, vol.41, n.2, pp. 167-176. ISSN 0034-9690.

Given the urgent health situation that HIV/AIDS generates for Puerto Rico, we explored the role protestant churches could have in its prevention. Seven leaders of the Disciples of Christ and the United Evangelical denominations were interviewed to learn of their recommendations regarding strategies, themes and people who should receive and facilitate preventive efforts stemming from the church. We also inquired about the availability of resources to implement these efforts. All participants believed their churches should engage in HIV/AIDS prevention. They recommended that an interdisciplinary group give lectures or workshops on issues such as abstinence and masturbation with a focus on youth. They think the church has the resources to implement these activities. We include recommendations according to these results.

Keywords : Protestant church; Prevention; Puerto Rico; Human Immunodeficiency Virus; Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

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