Effectively engaging faith-based leaders on syringe services programs: U.S. pastors' knowledge, perceptions, and questions.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To identify faith-based leaders' (FBLs') knowledge, perceptions, and questions about syringe services programs (SSPs).

Methods

We conducted a one-time, national online survey of 461 Christian FBLs August-September 2022.

Results

56% of FBLs agreed they support having SSPs in their communities; only 7% strongly disagreed. We identified 15 main questions FBLs have about SSPs. We found statistically significant differences based on FBL Protestant affiliations. Mainline FBLs are more knowledgeable about SSPs, likely to believe a larger number of SSP services would benefit their community, supportive of SSPs, interested in data related to SSPs, and likely to look to local public health officials to shape their opinions on SSPs compared with non-mainline FBLs.

C

SUBMITTER: Smither B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11302828 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature