207181 What's going on? Public health challenges and solutions for improving black men's health

Tuesday, November 10, 2009: 10:45 AM

Gandarvaka L. Gray, MPH Student , University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health, Chicago, IL
Michael A. Joseph, PhD, MPH , Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Graduate Program in Public Health, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY
Peter E. Thomas, PhD, MPH , Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, CDC, Atlanta, GA
Background. This presentation is part of a larger panel session organized by the Black Young Professionals' Public Health Network (the NETWORK). The NETWORK is an organization established to enhance career networking opportunities and scholarly exchange among African American public health students and professionals at APHA and in the public health field. The stronghold of the NETWORK's APHA Program is the informative panel session on the professional development of persons of color in the public health field.

Methods. Panelists will describe the current health status of black men in the US, based on their respective areas of expertise, and identify contextual factors that function in the maintenance of racial and ethnic disparities. Additionally, they will share lessons learned from past health disparities work in these areas and what young, black men in the public health field can do to help eliminate these disparities.

Results. Dr. Fullilove will share the findings of past and ongoing research on the topic of health disparities in STI prevention and care. His publications on the subject are numerous and demonstrate: 1) the social contexts in which high-risk behaviors persist among black men in rural areas; and 2) that poverty functions as an underlying determinant of sexually transmitted infection even in men who do not exhibit high-risk sexual behavior. In addition to these findings, Dr. Fullilove will share a unique perspective on the use of the US prison system as a target for behavioral interventions geared towards STI prevention. Lastly, Dr. Fullilove will suggest innovative strategies for distributing the results of health disparities research.

Conclusions. By serving as a panelist, Dr. Fullilove will contribute the following to this discussion: 1) scientific evidence demonstrating the differential sexual health burdens experienced by black men especially in rural areas; and 2) unique research and programmatic strategies audience members could employ to help eliminate these burdens.

Learning Objectives:
1) Describe the health status of black men in America. 2) Identify contextual barriers that both create and maintain health disparities affecting black men. 3) Demonstrate how health disparities affecting black men impact black families and communities. 4) Discuss strategies for improving black men's health.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: The invited panelists are experienced professionals in various public health fields.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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