Multiculturalism has been described as a 'fourth force " in understanding human behavior This perspective recognizes the importance of cultural variables, such as gender and ethnicity, in all clinical work. A multicultural perspective is particularly important in understanding human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease because acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic has been defined by cultural variables. This is so both in terms of the transmission of the virus and in the psychosocial issues that have emerged. The purpose of this article is threefold First, an existing model for assessing and counseling clients with HIV-related concerns is presented with an emphasis on how an increased focus on multicultural issues might enhance this model. This is supported by an overview of the literature on HIV from a multicultural perspective. Next, clinical cases are presented to show how counseling interventions might be enhanced by recognizing multicultural issues. Finally, an examination of institutional responses to HIV-related multicultural issues is presented
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Anderson, R. M. , & May, R. M. (1992, May). Understanding the AIDS pandemic. Scientific American, pp. 58-66.
2.
Bell, N. K. (1989). AIDS and women: Remaining ethical issues. AIDS Education and Prevention, 1, 22-30.
3.
Bloom, P. , & Carliner, G. (1988, February 5). The economic impact of AIDS in the United States. Science, pp. 604-609.
4.
Campos, P. E. , Brasfield, T. L., & Kelly, J. A. (1989). Psychology training related to AIDS: Survey of doctoral graduate programs and predoctoral internship programs. Professional Psychology Research and Practice, 20, 214-220.
5.
CDC AIDS Weekly. (1988, October 3). p. 2.
6.
Centers for Disease Control . (1990, January). HIV/AIDS surveillance report(1-22). Atlanta, GA: Author.
7.
Centers for Disease Control . (1991). Review of draft for revision of HIV infection classification system and expansion of AIDS surveillance case definition. Mortality and Morbidity Weekly Report, 40, 787.
8.
Centers for Disease Control . (1992, January). HIV/AIDS surveillance report(1-22). Atlanta, GA: Author.
9.
Chang, S. W. , Katz, M. H., & Hemandez, S. R. (1992). The new AIDS case definition. Journal of the American Medical Association, 267, 973-975.
10.
Cochran, S. D. , & Mays, V. M. (1989). Women and AIDS-related concerns: Roles for psychologists in helping the worried well. American Psychologist, 44, 529-535.
11.
Cochran, S. D. , & Mays, V. M. (1991). Psychosocial HIV interventions in the second decade: A note on social support and social networks. The Counseling Psychologist, 19, 551-557.
12.
Cohen, J. B. , Hauer, L. B., & Wofsy, C. B. (1989). Women and IV drugs: Parenteral and heterosexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus. Journal of Drug Issues, 19, 39-56.
13.
Dalton, H. L. (1989). AIDS in blackface. Daidalus, 118, 205-227.
14.
Dean, L. , Hall, W. E., & Martin, J. L. (1988). Chronic and intermittent AIDS: Related bereavement in a panel of homosexual men in New York City. Journal of Palliative Care, 4, 54-57.
15.
De La Cancela, V. (1989). Minority AIDS prevention: Moving beyond cultural perspectives towards sociopolitical empowerment. AIDS Education and Prevention, 1, 141-153.
16.
El-Sadr, W. , & Capps, L. (1992). The challenge of minority recruitment in clinical trials for AIDS. Journal of the American Medical Association, 267, 954-957.
17.
Fineberg, H. V. (1988, October). The social dimensions of AIDS. Scientific American, pp. 128-134.
18.
Freudenberg, N. , Lee, J., & Silver, D. (1989). How Black and Latino community organizations respond to the AIDS epidemic: A case study in one New York City neighborhood. AIDS Education and Prevention, 1, 12-21.
19.
Friedman, S. R. , Des Jarlais, D. C., & Sterk, C. E. (1990). AIDS and the social relations of intravenous drug users. Millbank Quarterly, 68, 85-110.
20.
Fullilove, M. (1989). Ethnic minorities, HIV, and the growing underclass. In J. W. Dilley, C. Pies, & M. Helquist (Eds.), Fact to face: A guide to AIDS counseling (pp. 230-240). Berkeley, CA: Celestial Trades.
21.
Gambe, R. , & Getzel, G. S. (1989). Group work with gay men with AIDS. Social Casework, 70, 172-179.
22.
Gelso, C. J. , & Fassinger, R. E. (1990). Counseling psychology: Theory and research on interventions. Annual Review of Psychology, 41, 355-386.
23.
Gerald, G. (1989). What can we learn from the gay community's response to the AIDS crisis. Journal of the National Medical Association, 81, 449-452.
24.
Ginzberg, E. (1991). Access to health care for Hispanics. Journal of the American Medical Association, 265, 238-241.
25.
Hoffman, M. A. (1991a). Counseling the HIV-infected client: A psychosocial model for assessment and intervention. The Counseling Psychologist, 19, 467-542.
26.
Hoffman, M. A. (1991b). Training mental health counselors for the AIDS crisis. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 13, 264-269.
27.
Kaplan, H. B. , Johnson, R. J., Bailey, C. A., & Simon, W. (1987). The sociological study of AIDS: A critical review of the literature and suggested research agenda. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 28, 140-157.
28.
Karan, L. D. (1989). AIDS prevention and chemical dependence treatment needs of women and their children. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 21, 395-399.
29.
Katoff, L. , & Dunne, R. (1988). Supporting people with AIDS: The gay men's health crisis model [Special issue: AIDS]. Journal of Palliative Care, 4, 88-95.
30.
Krueger, L. E. , Wood, R. W., Diehr, P. H., & Maxwell, C. L. (1990). Poverty and HIV seropositivity: The poor are more likely to be infected. AIDS, 4, 811-814.
31.
Levine, C. (1990). Women and HIV/AIDS research: The barriers to equity. Evaluation Review, 14, 447-463.
32.
Levine, C. , & Dubler, N. N. (1990). Uncertain risks and bitter realities: The reproductive choices of HIV-infected women. Milbank Quarterly, 68, 321-351.
33.
Lorion, R. P. (1990). Evaluating HIV risk-reduction efforts: Ten lessons from psychotherapy and prevention outcome strategies. Journal of Community Psychology, 18, 325-336.
34.
Martin, J. (1988). Psychological consequences of AIDS-related bereavement among gay men. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 56, 856-862.
35.
Mays, V. M. , & Cochran, S. D. (1988). Issues in the perception of AIDS risk and risk reduction activities by Black and Hispanic/Latina women. American Psychologist, 43, 949-957.
36.
Mitchell, J. L. (1989). Drug abuse and AIDS in women and their affected offspring. Journal of the National Medical Association, 81, 841-842.
37.
Morales, E. S. (1990). HIV infection and Hispanic gay and bisexual men. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 12, 212-222.
38.
Mulleady, G. , Riccio, M., & Hogarth, S. (1989). HIV infection and drug users: Setting up support groups [Special issue: AIDS counseling: Theory, research and practice]. Counseling Psychology Quarterly, 2, 53-57.
39.
Murray, C. (1988). The coming of custodial democracy. Commentary, 86, 19-24.
40.
Nichols, S. E. (1986). Psychotherapy and AIDS. In T. S. Stein & C. J. Cohen (Eds.), Contemporary perspective on psychotherapy with lesbians and gay men (pp. 202-239). New York: Plenum.
41.
Pedersen, P. B. (1991). Multiculturalism as a generic approach to counseling [Special issue: Multiculturalism as a fourth force in counseling]. Journal of Counseling & Development, 70, 6-12.
42.
Peterson, J. L. , & Marin, G. (1988). Issues in the prevention of AIDS among Black and Hispanic men. American Psychologist, 43, 871-877.
43.
Sabogal, F. , Marin, G., Otero-Sabogal, R., Marin, B. V., & Perez-Stable, E. J. (1987). Hispanic familism and acculturation: What changes and what doesn't. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 9, 397-412.
44.
Williams, L. S. (1986). AIDS risk reduction: A community health education intervention for minority high risk group members. Health Education Quarterly, 13, 407-421.
45.
Wyatt, G. E. (1991). Examining ethnicity versus race in AIDS related sex research. Social Science Medicine, 33, 37-45.
46.
Zuckerman, C. , & Gordon, L. (1988). Meeting the psychosocial and legal needs of women with AIDS and their families. New York State Journal of Medici, 88, 619-620.
