“The strongest structural factor that was positively associated with achieving viral suppression was residing in a state where more than 50% of people living with HIV were receiving Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program services.” Increasing Services for Patients & Conducting Additional Research “We did not see a positive association between residing in a state with Medicaid expansion and achieving viral suppression in comparison with residing in a state without Medicaid expansion,” he says. The study results showed “stark differences” within the socioeconomic environments in which Black and White patients with HIV reside, according to Dr. “Structural factors intended to lessen the financial burden of HIV care and improve access were positively associated with being linked to HIV care within 1 month of diagnosis and achieving viral suppression for both Black and White people with HIV,” Dr Logan says. For both racial/ethnic groups, a greater number of people with HIV who lived in states with Medicaid expansion were linked to HIV care within 1 month following the diagnosis compared with patients with HIV who lived in states without Medicaid expansion. No association was found between redlining and HIV outcomes. ‘Stark’ Socioeconomic Differences for Black Vs White PatientsĬompared with White participants, Black individuals had lower rates of linkage to care within 1 month after an HIV diagnosis (82.3% vs 75.8%) and viral suppression in 2018 (77.3% vs 67.8%). Participants lived in 38 US jurisdictions.

The investigators used three data sources to review linkage to HIV care within 1 month of diagnosis and viral suppression (ie, viral load <200 copies/mL) relative to these structural factors among 12,996 Black and White adults diagnosed with HIV in 2017 who were alive at the end of 2018. Logan, including racial redlining, Medicaid expansion, and Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program use. Understanding the social determinants of health is a key component in reducing HIV-related health inequities.”įor a study published in AIDS and Behavior, the research team examined “three structural factors that might influence inequities in HIV-related care outcomes,” according to Dr. “To achieve health equity and end the HIV epidemic, the nation must overcome the persistent barriers that have contributed to disparities for far too long. “Certain social and structural factors have contributed to Black people accounting for a higher proportion of new HIV infections than other races and ethnicities,” Joseph Logan, PhD, explains. A study examining structural factors in HIV care shows “stark differences” in the socioeconomic environments of Black and White patients with HIV.

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