HEALTH DISPARITY IN HIV/AIDS

SARAH GRACE ROGERS

WHAT ARE HIV AND AIDS?
~1.2 Million
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Americans are
§ Body attacks its own immune system living with HIV
§ Damages and depletes T Cells or AIDS
§ More likely to acquire secondary diseases

Stages of Infection Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

1. Acute • Progression of HIV – T cell count gets so
2. Clinical Latency low that immune system is ineffective
3. AIDS against disease
• Opportunistic infection
TREATMENT AND TRANSMISSION

¡ An HIV diagnosis is not a death sentence

¡ Antiretroviral Therapy (ART)

¡ Reduces viral load, slows progression
¡ Reduces risk of transmission
¡ More effective when taken in early stages of progression

¡ Transmission
¡ Occurs when infected bodily fluids come into contact with mucous membranes
¡ Unprotected anal/vaginal sex, sharing needles
¡ PrEP, PEP
DISPARITIES BY POPULATION

¡ LBGTQ+
¡ Highest rate of new diagnoses occurs as a result of male-to-male sexual contact
¡ Gay or bisexual males
¡ 67% of diagnoses

¡ African Americans
¡ Overall HIV rates are declining, while increasing in minority populations
¡ 75/100,000
¡ 45% of diagnoses

¡ Black men who identify as gay or bisexual are at the greatest risk for contracting HIV.
DISPARITIES BY POPULATION
ORIGINS OF DISPARITY

¡ Less access to quality and competent healthcare

¡ High risk behaviors
¡ Pre-existing or co-existing conditions
¡ Low priority in impoverished communities
¡ Stigma
INTERVENTION: NEEDLE EXCHANGES

¡ Target demographic: Intravenous Drug Users

¡ Goal: Prevent the spread of HIV through the sharing of infected needles
¡ Opportunity for education and rehabilitation
¡ Direct access to target population

¡ Method: One-for-one needle exchange

¡ Multiple locations throughout cities with high usage rates (Baltimore)
¡ Provide HIV testing, treatment referrals, injection practices
REFERENCES

¡ www.hiv.gov
¡ https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/statistics.html
¡ https://www.hivlawandpolicy.org/
¡ https://eds-b-ebscohost-com.libdata.lib.ua.edu/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=5&sid=75862725-3639-4e23-9b49-
a5574081903a%40sessionmgr120