Helping to Heal HIV Testing and Resource Mobile
Abstract
Rural areas often lack the infrastructure to support delivery of comprehensive HIV services.
1. To increase knowledge of safer sex strategies in rural areas through a series of workshops and education sessions
2. To increase knowledge of HIV awareness among rural residents
3. To provide weekly mobile outreach in rural communities reaching substance abusers, mentally ill, sex workers and ex offenders
4. To increase the commitment and abilities of men in rural areas who have sex with men to avoid or reduce behaviors that put them at risk for HIV infection
Proposal Summary
Approximately 50,000 of the estimated 1.1 million Americans ages 13 and older will be living with HIV at the end of 2009 and 7.7 percent of new diagnoses were in rural areas. HIV/AIDS related deaths are a major contributor to excess mortality in rural areas. It has been proposed that HIV/AIDS morbidity and mortality could be reduced substantially by utilizing a HIV Mobile Testing Unit which would administer rapid tests to individuals ages 13 and older in rural areas. The potential advantages of HIV rapid testing would include the increased chance of early diagnosis, distributions of condoms, linkage to care counseling and treatment. Concerning rural residents in the HIV/AIDS epidemic, several studies have shown: • Rural residents commonly deny that HIV exists in their communities. This phenomenon means that community awareness of HIV is a priority for rural prevention. Stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS and other STDs appear to be prevalent in rural areas thus creating barriers to prevention, testing and treatment. The threat of being recognized while buying condoms or seeking HIV/STD testing, dissuades most people from getting services in their local community. Stigma, racism, and other forms of discrimination also create pressures that drive those living in rural populations to engage in risky behaviors in secrecy. • Residents in rural areas often have limited access to medical facilities and reliable transportation. • The threat of being stigmatized for buying condoms illustrates the need for confidential testing and counseling to combat stigmas that are attached to a positive diagnosis. • Counseling is on HIV/AIDS and STD’s is not given to pregnant women. • There is a lack of infrastructure to support MSM (men having Sex with men) • Overwhelming denial that HIV exists in rural areas In order to reduce morbidity and mortality by HIV/AIDS in rural areas “Helping to Heal is seeking funds to implement a locally developed preventive. If funded, this program would allow us the opportunity to implement HIV rapid testing, which would increase awareness and establish community based coalitions. Helping to Heal would also participate in counseling, the linkage of care, and transportation services. This program will both provide testing at WIC (Women Infant and Child) and HIV prevention counseling, along with education sessions and continuum of care. Some anticipated outcomes of Helping to Heal Mobile include: • Workshops and free testing sites held at faith based organizations. • Family member will be trained to become peer support advocates • Condoms with proper usage instruction and a supply of varied condoms. • Increased access to healthcare resources and transportation in rural North Carolina • New and expecting mothers will be role models for teenage girls by practicing safe sex. • The reduction of stigma by an increase of MSM as venue planners, role players and outreach workers.
Relevance And Significance
Relevance and Significance Helping to Heal relates to prevention and intervention, both of which are two of the conference tracks. In schools, discussion forums will be held titled, “Disease Prevention Education,” which will focus on sexual health and the prevention of disease transmission, will include decision making, refusal, and negotiation skills. Educators for this program should be adequately prepared and trained, through either the State Departments of Health or Education or a national network of state organizations focused on the prevention of teen pregnancy and HIV/STDs. Helping to Heal will focus on the recruitment of community health and counseling professionals to provide school-based HIV/STD education. There is no evidence base to support continued investment in rigid abstinence- until- marriage programs. Teens are curious and will have sex, so instead of abstinence only we will we giving them options, to protect themselves if waiting is not working for them. The implementation of Disease Prevention Education program will be at youth serving after school programs, such as, 4-H, the Boys and Girls Clubs, and GED programs, and will be the main focus. This program the community-based prevention and intervention will begin with community assessments and resources. Conducting local assessments on the community will increase general awareness on how transmission can be prevented, while creating a chance to change community attitudes and norms. HIV/STD prevention messages will be most effective when communicated by non-traditional, advocates such as, the pharmacists, barber shop, and hair salons. Information would be shared in pre-existing social networks such as migrant agricultural communities and church auxiliaries which would disseminate information to diverse groups who would be open to HIV/STD education. Goal 1: To increase the preventive methods of risky sexually active individuals: Objective: 1.1: To increase the knowledge of safer sex strategies in rural areas through a series of workshops, and education sessions. Activities: 1. Develop pre and post test questions on the main ways of contracting the HIV virus 2. Facilitate focus group discussions on condom application 3. Conduct education workshops in faith based organizations, barber shops and hair salons on ways to protect and prevent the spread of HIV Objective 1.2: To conduct weekly mobile outreach in rural communities, which will reach, substance abusers, the mentally ill, sex workers, and unduplicated ex-offenders Activities: 1. Coordinate workshops with intravenous drug users teaching proper cleaning of injection equipment. 2. Distribute clean needles to participants in HIV prevention support groups 3. Expand focus groups with knowledge to express confidence in discussing safer sex with sexual partners. 4. Establish focus groups to discuss referrals to mental health, detox, and substance abuse services. Objective 1.3 To conduct one-on-one weekly mobile outreach at provider offices with a focus on women, infant, and pregnant women in rural areas, Utilizing Sisters Informing Sisters on the Topic of Aids and HIV (SISTAH) Activities: 1. Distribute and educate pregnant women, and new mothers on the proper application of female condoms 2. Coordinate care for follow up HIV testing 3. Workshops educating pregnant women on the dangers of HIV and advising on behaviors that reduce the risks. 4. Education sessions with pregnant women who are intravenous drug users Goal 2: To increase the commitment and abilities of men in rural areas who have sex with men to avoid or reduce behaviors that put them at risk for HIV infection. Objective 1.1 Provide infrastructure to support MSM (Men having Sex with Men) Activities: 1. Develop focus groups lead by MSM’s, discussing challenges of hooking up on internet sites. 2. Provide rural venues for men to meet and socialize with potential male partners 3. Education session providing MSM’s with proper condom and question answer sessions. 4. Facilitate focus groups encouraging MSM’s to discuss status and sexual orientation.
Session Format
Presentation Session
Keywords
MSM, Women Infant Child, Mentally Ill, Rural Providers, Confidentiality
Publication Type and Release Option
Presentation (Open Access)
Recommended Citation
Ramos-Mason, Marisa B.; Agard, La Tonya Pastor; Hargrove, Alison Mgr; Jolly, David Prf.; Robinson, Seronda Epidemiologist; Childs, Robert Director; and Stephens-Moreno, Treva Pharm D, "Helping to Heal HIV Testing and Resource Mobile" (2015). 9th Annual Rural HIV Research and Training Conference (2014-2019). 3.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/ruralhiv/2015/2015/3
Helping to Heal HIV Testing and Resource Mobile
Rural areas often lack the infrastructure to support delivery of comprehensive HIV services.
1. To increase knowledge of safer sex strategies in rural areas through a series of workshops and education sessions
2. To increase knowledge of HIV awareness among rural residents
3. To provide weekly mobile outreach in rural communities reaching substance abusers, mentally ill, sex workers and ex offenders
4. To increase the commitment and abilities of men in rural areas who have sex with men to avoid or reduce behaviors that put them at risk for HIV infection