209480 Congregations' responses to HIV/AIDS: The role of theological, structural, and demographic factors

Tuesday, November 10, 2009: 3:24 PM

Magdalena Szaflarski, PhD , Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
C. Jeffrey Jacobson, PhD , Department of Anthropology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
P. Neal Ritchey, PhD , Department of Sociology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
Rhys Williams, PhD , Department of Sociology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
Susan Sherman, DPA , Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
Sian Cotton, PhD , Department of Family Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
Karthik Meganathan, MA , Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
Amy Baumann , Department of Sociology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
Anthony Leonard, PhD , Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
Joel Tsevat, MD, MPH , Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
Background: Little is known about religious congregations' current involvement in HIV/AIDS-related work. Research shows that people living with HIV/AIDS become more spiritual/religious when faced with HIV/AIDS, but congregations are not always receptive to or supportive of these individuals seeking spirituality/religion. This study examined the demographic, structural, and theological characteristics of congregations that make them more or less likely to offer HIV/AIDS-related programs/services.

Methods: A phone census of congregations was conducted in a mid-western metropolitan area using a structured questionnaire. In addition to location, theological orientation, demographics, and operational resources, congregations were asked about provision of HIV education/prevention, counseling, and testing programs/services. Based on political structure, congregations were classified as episcopal or congregational. Data were analyzed using Fisher's exact test (categorical variables) and two-sample t-test (continuous variables).

Results: A total of 449 congregations participated in the census; 421 had complete data on programming. The largest theological/polity categories were: Conservative Protestant/Congregational (41.3%), Mainline Protestant/Congregational (16.9%), Roman Catholic/Episcopal (15.7%), and Mainline Protestant/Episcopal (15.7%). Black Protestant congregations were more likely than other congregations to provide HIV-related programs/services (p≤0.006); a third offered HIV education/prevention (vs. 2.9% Conservative Protestant/Congregational; 5.5% Roman Catholic) and 16.1% offered HIV counseling (vs. 2.3% Conservative Protestant/Congregational; 1.5% Roman Catholic) and testing (vs. 2.8% Conservative Protestant/Congregational; 1.5% Roman Catholic). Significant differences in HIV-related programming were also observed by membership size, average attendance, racial/ethnic composition, and other variables.

Conclusions: Congregations' HIV-related involvement varies by theological and organizational factors. Future efforts should identify ways to enhance congregations' role in responding to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Learning Objectives:
Describe the role of religious congregations' in addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic Discuss the theological, structural, and demographic factors shaping religious congregations responses to HIV/AIDS

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Religion

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I hold a PhD degree and am a research faculty in public health. I am also the PI on the NIH-funded study presented in this abstract.
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.

See more of: Focus on faith and HIV/AIDS
See more of: Caucus on Public Health and the Faith Community