SENORITAS: An HIV/Sexually Transmitted Infection Prevention Project for Latina College Students at a Hispanic-Serving University

Few HIV prevention projects have specifically targeted Latina college students. These young women may be at risk for HIV infection because of developmental issues, normative behaviors, gender roles, and cultural beliefs that affect their sexual practices. The SENORITAS project (an acronym for Student Education Needed in Order to Reduce Infection and Transmission of AIDS/HIV and STIs [sexually transmitted infections]) is an innovative program designed for Latina college students at an urban Hispanic-serving institution in South Florida. The project has two major aims: (a) to provide age-appropriate, gender-specific, and culturally tailored HIV/STI prevention education for Latina college students through the use of a theoretically based, single-session peer education program: and (b) to improve the competence, comfort level, and skills of multiethnic nursing students as HIV prevention educators. This article discusses project development and design using the information-motivation-behavioral skill model for HIV prevention, describes implementation with peer educators, and concludes with progress to date and future directions.

Key words: college students, females, HIV education, HIV prevention, Latinas, Hispanics, Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs), peer educators