Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #109376

Marguerite Keesee, MA¹, Hélène Carabin, PhD², Kimberly A. Shinault, MPH³, Ahmad Saleem G. Ahmad, MA⁴, Kermyt G. Anderson, PhD¹, Tim Brittingham, MSW¹, Lynda Williams, MA¹, Nancy K. Sonleitner, PhD¹, Robyn Schulhof, MA⁵, and Adan Cajina, MS⁵. (1) Center for Health Ethics, Research and Policy, University of Oklahoma, 3200 Marshall Ave. Suite 230, Norman, OK 73072-8032, 405-325-8154, mkeesee@ou.edu, (2) Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Oklahoma, College of Public Health, 801 NE 13th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73116, (3) Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 801 NE 13th Street, CHB 317, P.O.Box 26901, Oklahoma City, OK 73190, (4) School of Social Work, University of Oklahoma, 1005 S. Jenkins Avenue, #203, Rhyne Hall, Norman, OK 73019, (5) Department of Health & Human Services, Health Resources & Services Administration, HIV/AIDS Bureau, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rm 7C-07, Rockville, MD 20857

In response to the growing social, economic and health needs arising from the rapid growth of the Hispanic population along the U.S. - Mexico border, the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), HIV/AIDS Bureau funded the U.S.- Mexico Border Special Project of National Significance (SPNS) Health Initiative. The purpose of this study is to provide a description of the 1200 HIV seropositive individuals who volunteered to participate in a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) Initiative in the U.S. - Mexico Border region between 2000 and 2004. The patients were recruited for participation from five primary care clinics located in New Mexico (1), Texas (2), California (1) and Arizona (1). The description is based on the responses provided by the participants regarding personal lifestyles and demographic characteristics. These data were collected through the use of standardized data collection modules which were administered by the five demonstration projects located along the U.S. - Mexico Border. The racial/ethnic distribution of subjects varied considerably between sites ranging from approximately 50% to 90% of the patients self-identified as being Hispanic/Latino. Of those self-identified as Hispanic, approximately 95% were Mexican/Mexican American except in New Mexico with a proportion of 88%. Less than 20% of the subjects reported receiving traditional medications or herbs in Mexico within the last year. Only a small proportion of patients were still receiving HIV medical care in Mexico in all sites except for California where about one-quarter of patients reported receiving such care. It is important that US Public Health providers recognize that the Border Health population may be significantly different from the Hispanic population residing in the remaining US states with a vast majority being Mexican and maintaining ties to Mexican health services.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

1)Describe the Socio-demographic characteristics of HIV/AIDS patients receving care along the US-Mexico Border.
• Recognize the differences in the level of acculturation across the four US-Mexico Border States.
• Discuss level connectedness and use of care in Mexico among HIV/AIDS patients receiving in care in US.

Keywords: Hispanic, Access to Health Care

Related Web page: www.ou.edu/border/

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.