Infección de Amor (Infectious Love): Development and Acceptability of a Telenovela/Soap Opera Intervention for HIV Prevention For Latinas

• DOI: 10.1521/aeap.2023.35.6.421
• Publication Date: 2023-12-14T20:35:02Z
• Authors: Natalia Villegas; Anne E. Norris; Rosina Cianelli; Madeline Fernande...; Christine Toledo
• Keywords: Adult; Safe Sex; Young Adult; 03 medical and health sciences; Adolescent; Humans; HIV Infections; Hispanic or Latino; Soaps; 0305 other medical science; Love; United States

Latinas continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV in the United States. Effective interventions to address HIV-related disparities among Latinas are available; however, they have not achieved widespread dissemination due to implementation challenges for real-world settings. A culturally tailored intervention that increases access to HIV prevention is urgently needed. The objective of this study was to develop a culturally tailored telenovela (i.e., a soap opera) to promote HIV prevention behaviors (condom use; HIV testing; and pre-exposure prophylaxis awareness, access, and use) among Latinas. The study was conducted in community organizations throughout South Florida. A total of 44 Spanish-speaking Latinas, 18–35 years old, and sexually active with a man in the past 6 months participated in the study. The final product was an HIV prevention telenovela that incorporated Latinas' ideas and feedback and was produced as four 10-minute filmed episodes. This study aimed to develop innovative approaches to reduce HIV-related disparities for Latinas.