HIV/AIDS in Women and Racial/Ethnic Minorities in the U.S.

Abstract

The clinical issues affecting women with HIV/AIDS differ little from those affecting men. However, current research shows that treatment and outcome disparities affect many women with HIV, hypothesized to result from a complex interplay of socioeconomic and gender role influences. These disparities are also a reflection of racial/ethnic differences in treatment and outcome, since 80% of women with HIV/AIDS are black or Hispanic. Women have unique needs for HIV prevention - both prevention of sexual transmission to or from sexual partners and prevention of perinatal transmission. Racial/ethnic minorities continue to be disproportionately affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the U.S. Minorities are less likely to be in care and on HAART than others with HIV/AIDS. These disparities result in poorer outcomes for minorities, especially blacks, with HIV/AIDS. New strategies for optimizing engagement and retention in care, and for prevention hold great promise for women and minorities with HIV in the U.S.

Correlates of Retention in HIV Care After Release from Jail: Results from a Multi-site Study

“…In 2009, women represented 25% of newly diagnosed cases of HIV in the US, 80% of infections were sexually transmitted, and minorities were disproportionately represented (66% Black, 14% Latina) (34). Among prisoners, 1.9% of women are infected with HIV compared to 1.5% of men (35).…”

Measuring HIV Self-Management in Women Living With HIV/AIDS

“…These co-morbidities require many self-management behaviors similar to those required to successfully manage HIV including: adhering to medical treatment and appointments 8 , monitoring symptoms 9 , increasing engagement with one’s health care provider 10,11 , managing family responsibilities 12 , managing the impact of stigma 13,14 , preventing sexually transmitted diseases 15,16 , and managing the interaction of all chronic diseases 17-20 . Self-management work is challenging, but to women living with HIV/AIDS it can be particularly overwhelming, compared to men, due to the gender disparities in both accessibility to health care resources and health outcomes 21-24 . The number and complexity of the numerous self management tasks can be daunting for WLHA and yet, this self-management behavior can help minimize the impact of these health conditions on a woman’s daily functioning 25 .…”

Sex, Race, and HIV Risk Disparities in Discontinuity of HIV Care After Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation in the United States and Canada

“…[1][2][3][4] Despite these benefits, disparities in retention have been noted across race, sex, and HIV acquisition risk groups by multiple researchers. [2][3][4][5][6][7] As such, the US National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) has set a goal of diminishing these disparities, focusing on racial/ethnic minorities. 8,9 Retention is part of the HIV continuum of care.…”

“…5,10 We chose to focus on males, black patients, and those with IDU HIV risk factors as they constitute highly vulnerable populations with poorer HIV outcomes, including retention, both nationally and within our cohort. [1][2][3][5][6][7]9 Methods…”