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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Lisa L. Lindley, DrPH, MPH, CHES, Health Promotion, Education and Behavior, University of South Carolina, Arnold School of Public Health, 800 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208, 803-777-7029, llindley@gwm.sc.edu and Virginia J. Dodd, PhD, MPH, Department of Health Education & Behavior, University of Florida, P.O. Box 118210, Rm. 5 FLG, Gainesville, FL 32611.

In addition to being places of worship, religious organizations have long held the tradition of “ministering” to the sick and poor within their congregations and surrounding communities. Since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, many religious organizations have provided a variety of programs and services to people living with HIV/AIDS, while others have yet to respond. However, there has not been any systematic attempt to measure the nature and extent to which religious organizations provide HIV-related programs and services. During the spring of 2005, more than 1,770 surveys were mailed to religious leaders (ministers, pastors, priests, rabbis, etc.) in Miami and Jacksonville, Florida. The purpose of the survey was to determine the nature and extent to which religious organizations in two Florida cities hardest hit by the HIV/AIDS epidemic addressed HIV/AIDS within their congregation, community and/or internationally. Telephone interviews were also attempted with a random sample of religious leaders following survey data collection. Fewer than five percent (n=85) of religious leaders completed the survey. Among those who responded, 64% reported that their congregation provided HIV/AIDS educational programs and/or services. However, Black religious leaders were more likely to report that HIV/AIDS was a problem in their community and to provide HIV-related programs and services than White religious leaders. Getting religious leaders to complete a survey or telephone interview about HIV/AIDS was extremely challenging. Therefore, in order to determine the nature and extent to which religious organizations are (or are not) addressing HIV/AIDS, additional research must be conducted utilizing different research strategies.

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

• Identify the extent to which religious leaders in Miami and Jacksonville, Florida reported providing HIV/AIDS education, services and/or pastoral care within their congregation, community and/or internationally; and
• Discuss strategies for and barriers to conducting research with religious organizations and religious leaders regarding HIV/AIDS.

Keywords: Religion, Public Health Education and Health Promotion

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered