Survey to assess health needs of Nebraska/Iowa LGBT population

An anonymous community needs assessment by researchers at UNMC and the University of Nebraska at Omaha will gauge the health needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender population in Nebraska and Iowa.

About 50,000 Nebraskans identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.

Take the survey here. All responses are confidential.

Untapped population

Findings from the 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,” Dr. Fisher said. “This along with other information will be useful to organizations like the Nebraska AIDS Project, that would like to improve efforts addressing barriers people may have to getting tested for HIV on a regular basis.”

A good start

Researchers have surveyed more than 300 people so far and hope to get at least 200 more. They especially would like to hear from rural Nebraska, Council Bluffs, Iowa and the Latino and African-American communities.