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286953
Factors affecting the emotional and physical health of aging latinos living with HIV/AIDS on the United States-Mexico border


Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Oscar Beltran, MS, PhD Candidate, Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Doctoral Program, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX
Michele Shedlin, Ph.D., College of Nursing, New York University, New York, NY
With the continual advancement of antiretroviral therapy (ART), the mortality rates of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) who successfully adhere to the medication regimens has decreased dramatically, and those infected with the virus are living to advanced ages. However, little research emphasis has been placed on the physical and mental healthcare needs of this aging population, especially within the Latino population living on the U.S.- Mexico border. One of the main objectives of our study was to inform healthcare workers about the needs of this border population. This paper presents data from a qualitative NIH study on ARV adherence on the US-Mexico Border (M.Shedlin, PI). The study sample consisted of 61 men and women of Mexican origin, ages 18 and older. In-depth interviews of an older subset of this sample were conducted in 18 participants (12 males and 6 females) to explore issues affecting older Latino PLWHAs. Aging Latino PLWHA on the U.S. Mexico border require specific health education and healthcare services that differ from younger populations of PLWHA. Interventions focused on this population must take into consideration their knowledge of, comfort with, and access to new medical knowledge and protocols. In addition, such interventions must consider specific needs reflecting possible declines in cognition as well as emotional support for common stressors for this population such as experiencing the loss of friends or partners due to aging, illness, and violence.

Learning Areas:

Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Diversity and culture
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Identify specific needs of the aging Latino population living with HIV/AIDS on the U.S.-Mexico border. Assess levels of comfort with new medical knowledge and protocols among the aging Latino population living with HIV/AIDS on the U.S.-Mexico border. Differentiate between issues common among aging male Latino participants and those common among aging female Latina participants living with HIV/AIDS on the U.S.-Mexico border.

Keyword(s): Aging, Mental Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been a co-investigator and research coordinator of multiple federally funded grants focusing on substance abuse, mental health and quality of life, and adherence to antiretroviral medications among HIV/AIDS infected Latinos living with HIV/AIDS. I am currently collaborating in research projects focused on the assessment of self-perceived risk and risk reduction for HIV/AIDS and STI among the Latino population living on the U.S.-Mexico border.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 5008.0: HIV and mental health