Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #117990

P. Bassey Williams, PhD, CHES, Department of Health Behavior & Environmental Health, Jackson State University School of Public Health, 350 Woodrow Wilson Avenue, Suite 301, Jackson Medical Mall, Jackson, MS 39213 -7681, 410-918-9750 or 601-368-2088, p.bassey.williams@jsums.edu, Anthony M. Sallar, PhD, MBA, MPH, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Ohio University, School of Health Sciences, Grover Center E317, Athens, OH 47501, Ademola M. Omishakin, MPH, PhD , MBA, Department of Natural Sciences & Environmental Health, Mississippi Valley State University, 14000 Highway 82 West, Itta Bena, MS 38941, and Michael Gibson, BS, MPH, Department of Health Behavior & Environmental Health, Jackson State University, School of Public Health, 350 Woodrow Wilson Avenue, Suite 301, Jackson Medical Mall, Jackson, Jackson, MS 39213-7681.

The Epidemic nature of the HIV infection among African-Americans in the United States underscores their physical, emotional and socio-cultural vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. This vulnerability is yet to be calibrated and measured to specifically determine and design interventions for minority communities. In order to do this, more specific evaluations of the differences and similarities between genders, sub-populations and sub-communities will be needed. This study examines the similarities and differences in a specific gender between urban and rural communities that, on the surface, appear to be similar. We used data from our survey instrument on attitudes, knowledge, feeling and behavior to examine more specific responses of adolescent, young and older adult males in the two communities of Mississippi. A second objective was to identify differences/barriers that may assist in understanding the specific perceptions affecting the HIV/AIDS distribution and transmission in order to design/implement more specific interventions for the two populations. Using the AKFBQ questionnaire, we administered a cross-sectional, convenience sample survey of 730 adolescent/adult African-American men, aged 18-55 years, using the postal mail and person-to-person interview methods. Although there were similarities in correlations between level of education and knowledge level, these were only valid for the younger age groups. Significant differences were observed on demographic variables as well as STD testing history, health attitudes, sexual behavior and practices among the subjects.

Learning Objectives: At the end of this session the participants will be able to

• Identify the differences in health attitudes and sexual behaviors of urban and rural African-American men regarding HIV/AIDS;
• determine factors responsible for the poor health attitude and high risk sexual behavior of African-American men in urban and rural communities of Mississippi;
• Develop appropriate HIV ethnic community-based intervention programs for minority communities.

Keywords: Minority Health, HIV Interventions

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.