Examining HIV/AIDS as a Health Disparity Among the African American

MSM Population in Chicago

Kylie Nordness, Sara Brathwaite, Nancy Hildalgo, Jacqueline Poupitch, Annabella Uwineza
DePaul University
Examination of the Disease as a Health
Disparity
! Stigmatization from multiple sources and lack of social
support from society at large, as well as within the African
American and MSM community
! Inequality in access and quality of healthcare
! Lack of cultural sensitivity from health care providers-
stereotypes, bias, prejudice
! Account for reduced knowledge of serostatus, decreased
willingness to undergo HIV testing, delayed access to
care, and ultimately, poorer treatment outcomes for Black
MSM (NASTAD).
! Stigma based on their ethnicity, sexual orientation, and HIV
status, acts as a barrier for African American MSM to health
outcomes including HIV testing and healthcare seeking
behaviors needed to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Policy
CDCs Act against Gay Campaign designed to strengthen HIV prevention efforts in the population
hardest hit by HIV and AIDSD, in particular the African American MSM communities.
CDCs MSM testing initiative, which will establish and evaluate all testing of HIV. The affordable care act
known as the Obamacare, will make an impact in the MSM community through coverage and preventive
care.
The national LGBT Health Education Center, will provide educational programs and technical assistance
to health centers.
The Lived Experience
Antoine Walker, mentor at TPAN (a service
committed to helping HIV positive people live
open, healthy, and productive lives).
The impact of the virus on an individuals social,
emotional, mental, and spiritual health.
References
"About HIV/AIDS." CDC, 14 Feb. 2014. Web. 7 Mar. 2014. Retrieved from <http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/
basics/whatishiv.html>.
"HIV/AIDS." Biology of HIV. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2014.
Aids foundation of chicago. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://aidschicago.org/pdf/msm_factsheet_2010.pdf
Retrieved from http://aidsvu.org/map/?city=Chicago.
The Role of Multidisciplinary Teams
The multidisciplinary team model of HIV care evolved
out of necessity due to the diverse characteristics and
needs of people living with HIV disease.
It is validated that multidisciplinary team model for HIV
care leads to improved health outcomes of HIV.
Core team of nurses, doctors, and social workers are
involved in care. Also, clinical services and supportive
services are essential.
Peter Johnson, The Center on Halstead
History, Biology, Physiology
Human Immunodeficiency Virus, or HIV, is a virus that can
lead to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, or AIDS
(CDC).
HIV belongs to a group of specific viruses known as
retroviruses. HIV forms part of a subgroup of the
retroviruses, called Lentiviruses.
When a person is infected with the HIV virus, the virus
uses an enzyme known as reverse transcriptase in order
to change its RNA into DNA and once that is done, the
replication of the virus occurs (National Institute of Allergy
and Infectious Disease).
Some people who have been exposed to the virus 2-4
weeks after exposure experience a flu-like symptoms.
Epidemiology
In 2010, an estimated 47,500 new HIV infections. Nearly two
thirds of these new infections occurred in gay and bisexual men.
African American men/woman were estimated to have an HIV
incidence rate that was 8 times as high as it is among
white (CDC).
Male-to-Male sexual contact is the main form of transmission
among US adults and adolescents diagnosed with AIDS in 2011.
In Illinois, at 72.5%, based on the most recent figures of people
living with an HIV diagnosis (AIDSVU).
MSM account for 4% of the U.S. male population, but the rate of
new HIV diagnoses among MSM in the U.S. is more than 44
times that of other men (AIDS Chicago).
In 2009, 611 HIV diagnoses were among MSM. Representing
76% of reported HIV diagnoses among men/women in Chicago.
Among men, 82% of HIV diagnoses were among
MSM (AIDSVU).