Purpose:

This presentation illustrates how results from community-based research can be utilized to develop education, prevention programs, and interventions for specialized populations. This research study identifies gaps in knowledge and strategies to address those gaps for this specialty population.

Significance:

CNSs can design, implement, and evaluate research in order to develop specific prevention and intervention strategies for specialized populations.

Design/Background/Rationale:

This study used a cross-sectional, correlational design and a convenience sample of rural women to obtain data on characteristics that influence safer sex behaviors of these women.

Methods/Description:

A community-based survey was conducted with a sample of 578 rural women; this convenience sample completed a 90-item self-report survey consisting of 4 research instruments and a demographic questionnaire in order to determine the influence of select characteristics on safer sex behaviors.

Findings/Outcomes:

Findings suggest that age, educational level, and relationship status influence safer sex behaviors. The majority of participants (n = 515; 88.9%) do not believe they are at risk for HIV infection. Only 62.2% (n = 360) of women surveyed indicated they received HIV information from their healthcare provider. Women indicated that to them, safer sex behaviors are used primarily to prevent pregnancy.

Conclusions:

The results of this study provide knowledge of the variables that impact HIV risk behaviors.