Helena Akua Kwakwa, Rahab Wahome and Sophia Bessias
Background: As we strive to reduce disparities in the implementation of the US National HIV/AIDS Strategy, we must understand HIV disparities as they exist in all US populations, including the foreign-born. We evaluate disparities in HIV prevalence in a US and foreign-born cohort in Philadelphia.
Methods: Comparative analyses were conducted using data from questionnaires paired with HIV test results for individuals undergoing HIV testing in Philadelphia between 2007 and 2011. Descriptive analyses were conducted by gender and world region of origin.
Results: Of 14,216 participants, 76.2% were US-born and 59% female. Caribbean men, 3.6% of the cohort, constituted 11.4% of the HIV- positive. Among women, Africans, 3.0% of the cohort constituted 4.5% of the HIVpositive. No disparities by race/ethnicity were found in the US-born cohort.
Conclusions: In this global population in Philadelphia, HIV disparities were found to occur by world region of birth and gender. The foreign-born must be included in analyses of the domestic epidemic that drive prevention strategies, policy and resource allocation
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