Many social, environmental, and economic factors converge to cause barriers and challenges that complicate HIV prevention and treatment for individuals living in rural areas. Some overarching factors include poverty in many rural areas, limited resources, and structural barriers that pose challenges to accessing services.

To help overcome these challenges, new toolkit on HIV prevention and care for people living in rural areas is available from the HRSA-supported Rural Health Information HubExit Disclaimer.

The Rural HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment Toolkit describes evidence-based and promising models that span the HIV care continuum, as well as ideas for identifying and adapting interventions for people at risk for and living with HIV in rural communities.

The modules in the toolkit focus on developing, implementing, evaluating, and sustaining rural HIV/AIDS programs.

For further information about efforts to support people living with HIV in rural areas, read about the Exit DisclaimerVA’s videoconferencing program to connect rural Veterans with HIV with VA specialists.