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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Frederick Schulze, DEd CHES, Health Sciences, Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania, 114 Himes, Lock Haven, PA 17745, 570-893-2155, fschulze@lhup.edu and James Labenberg, MS, MEd, NCC, AIDS Resource Alliance, Inc, 122 Valley Heights Drive, Williamsport, PA 17701.

Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) living in rural areas experience challenges that can be more intense and pervasive than their urban counterparts. In general there is more stigma related to homosexuality and HIV/AIDS in rural areas, a major factor with for sexual risk. The Rural Men's Study (RMS) conducted in Pennsylvania, USA, was conducted to look at stigma as a predictor of high risk sexual activity in MSM. This presentation will include results from the RMS and review implications for health educators and those in the helping professions.

Methods: MSM living in rural Pennsylvania, USA, completed an anonymous survey comprised of sexual risk behaviors, personal characteristics, mental health status, and stigma related to family, community, and health care providers. Logistic regression was done to examine the relationship between predictor variables and sexual risk levels.

Results: Self-esteem was lower among men exhibiting high risk. Men with low self-esteem were more likely to have multiple partners and inconsistently use condoms. Men who reported that local health care providers held less tolerant attitudes were more likely to participate in high-risk behavior.

Conclusions: Self-esteem was predictive of the most risky behavior. Men in the high-risk group reported health care providers in their communities having less tolerant attitudes. Innovative health education programs and HIV specific training for the helping professions are part of the defense in slowing the spread of HIV, reducing stigma, and protecting the human rights of persons living with HIV/AIDS.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the impact of environmental factors of stigma and self-esteem on sexual risk taking behaviors of rural MSM;
• Relate the environmental supports and health education strategies needed to decrease high-risk sexual behavior.

Keywords: Rural Populations, HIV Risk Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered