Approximately 50,000 Nebraskans, or three percent of the state’s population, identify themselves as either lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.
Researchers at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the University of Nebraska at Omaha are conducting an anonymous community needs assessment of this population in Nebraska and southwest Iowa. All responses are confidential.
The findings from the Midlands Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, (LGBT) Community Needs Assessment survey will provide useful insights into the social, mental, physical and sexual health of the community, said Christopher Fisher, Ph.D., assistant professor of health promotion, social and behavioral health in the UNMC College of Public Health.
“There is virtually no research on this population in the Midlands. This along with other information will be useful to organizations like the Nebraska AIDS Project, who would like to improve efforts addressing barriers people may have to getting tested for HIV on a regular basis,” Dr. Fisher said.
Dr. Fisher and co-investigator Jay Irwin, Ph.D., an assistant professor of sociology at UNO, have surveyed more than 300 people so far and are hoping to get at least 200 more. Dr. Fisher said they are especially looking for people in rural Nebraska, Council Bluffs, Iowa, and the Latino and African-American communities.
Findings will be shared with multiple LGBT community groups across the state and Council Bluffs, as well as local and state health agencies, Stop AIDS Nebraska and the Public Health Association of Nebraska. The hope is that with more information, these and other organizations will be able to better meet the needs of this community, Dr. Fisher said.
“There are many types of programming, ranging from HIV education to social support services to health care programs that may benefit from these findings,” he said.
Participants are asked to complete a 30-minute, anonymous, online survey. More information about the survey is available on the UNMC website at app1.unmc.edu/lgbt.
Through world-class research and patient care, UNMC generates breakthroughs that make life better for people throughout Nebraska and beyond. Its education programs train more health professionals than any other institution in the state. Learn more at unmc.edu.
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