Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Adan Cajina, MSc, BS, Division of Science and Policy, Health Resources and Services Administration/HIV-AIDS Bureau, 5600 Fishers Lane Room 7C-07, Rockiville, MD 20857, 301-443-3180, acajina@hrsa.gov

Background: HIV/AIDS is a disease that effects populations on both sides of the US/Mexico border. The HIV/AIDS epidemic in this region is made more complex by numerous factors including stigma, political and psycho-social factors that influence Latino cultural perspectives on sexuality. The rural nature of the border presents challenges for patients in overcoming distance barriers and managing privacy concerns. It presents major challenges for providers of health care in seeking health professionals with expertise in HIV/AIDS and cultural competence.

Methods: We will introduce 3 of 5 demonstration projects along the US/Mexico border. We hope you will see these innovative service models and note the patient demographics being evaluated by this SPNS initiative. The model of care generally focuses on two themes: (1)improved access to HIV care through use of local, culturally relevant, outreach activities using indigenous workers, (2)improving treatment outcomes by use of innovative, culturally appropriate models of case management to support HIV primary care activities.

Results: The results show HIV/AIDS patients receiving care along the U.S.-Mexico border are predominantly Hispanics (81%) and men who have sex with men (56%) and are in need of culturally relevant models of outreach and HIV care.

Conclusions: Evidence-based findings from these innovative service delivery models will help us to better understand the needs of people living with HIV/AIDS on the U.S. side of the Mexican Border, and offer local health care providers with effective approaches to create more successful culturally appropriate HIV service and educational delivery interventions.

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

• Understand the socio-economic and cultural factors of people living the in the U.S.-Mexico Border.
• Provide local health care providers with models to create more effective, culturally appropriate health care delivery systems.
• Utilize the service delivery approaches of these 3 SPNS projects as models by other organizations along the U.S./Mexico Border to improve HIV/AIDS education and health care services for Latino populations throughout the United States.

Keywords: Access to Care, Community Outreach

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No