The 2016 Municipal Equality Index rated Augusta, the largest city in the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA), as one of the least lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) friendly cities in America. To understand the context of our region in relation to LGBT wellness, we conducted the first LGBT health needs assessment of the CSRA, assessing physical and mental health status and health care needs and experiences in the community. Participants (N = 436) were recruited using venue and snowball sampling and completed an anonymous online survey. Overall, the health problems experienced (i.e., obesity, depression) were not uniformly experienced across sexual orientation and gender identity; some groups experienced significantly higher rates of these conditions than others. Similarly, transgender individuals in particular reported higher rates of negative experiences with health care providers. Regional and national dissemination of these findings is critical to reducing health disparities and improving wellness of our local LGBT community.

Men who have sex with men (MSM) in the southeastern United States continue to be at high risk for HIV. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) provides effective prevention, but PrEP awareness varies across communities. We assessed sexual risk, HIV/sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing history, health care experiences associated with PrEP awareness, provider discussions, and PrEP use in a sample of 164 MSM in the Central Savannah River Area of the South. Results revealed that 80.5% of participants were aware of PrEP, 16.4% had discussed PrEP with a provider, and 9.2% had used PrEP. Education, gay identity, HIV status, recent HIV testing, and lack of provider awareness about sexual minorities independently predicted PrEP awareness. Recent STI testing independently predicted increased odds of PrEP discussion. Recent HIV and STI testing and non-White identity were associated with PrEP use. Effective, tailored marketing, provider competence, and open communication can increase PrEP adoption by southern MSM.

Background: Lack of insurance coverage and provider training are significant barriers that contribute to health disparities among members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community. Locality can exacerbate health disparities due to lack of competent providers and higher levels of community stigma. The Equality Clinic in Augusta, GA, was created by medical students at the Medical College of Georgia to provide care to uninsured or underinsured members of the LGBTQ community in the Central Savannah River Area. The purpose of the following report is to examine demographic characteristics and presenting concerns of patients served by the Equality Clinic during its first two years of existence. Methods: The current report utilized retrospective medical record review from the first two years of operation to identify trends in patient demographics, presenting concerns, and service utilization. Results: Although the Equality Clinic was created to provide multiple facets of healthcare to the broader LGBTQ community, the services that were utilized in the first two years were strongly composed of gender affirmative care for those who identified as transgender. Overall, the patients served at the Equality Clinic were healthy with few chronic health conditions reported, however, a high rate of substance use was endorsed. Conclusions: This study may point to unique needs of transgender patients and highlights the lack of access to gender-related care in the rural southeast United States.