270141 Towards more holistic and comprehensive approaches to HIV, Hepatitis, STD and TB prevention in the United States

Monday, October 29, 2012 : 11:55 AM - 12:10 PM

Kevin Fenton, MD, PhD , National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Despite decades of advances in behavioral and biomedical prevention interventions, the United States bears a high population burden of STDs, HIV, viral hepatitis, TB and their associated costs. Annually, more than 19 million STDs occur each year, almost half among young people 15 to 24 years old; an estimated 1.2 million Americans are living with HIV; and the cost of STDs, including HIV, are estimated at $15.9 billion per year. Key characteristics of this public health challenge include: changing demography, epidemiology, cultural norms and values, and political contexts; increasing health inequities; increasing concentration among the socio-economically disadvantaged, minorities, those with poor healthcare access; overlapping epidemics; and the challenging fiscal environments require increased efficiency, harmonization and minimize duplication. The U.S. National HIV/AIDS Strategy has called for “A concerted national effort to increase the capacity of whole communities to prevent HIV and support community members living with HIV is needed“ and supports a new national dialogue on health equity. Since 2006, CDC has prioritized the promotion of health equity through promoting social and structural approaches to prevention. Key strategies include: Community mobilization; service Integration; policy interventions; contingency funding; economic and educational Interventions; and promoting science on disparities. CDC recommendations for enhancing health equity call for strengthening leadership on health equity at all levels; supporting funding for SDH research; increasing internal and external communication on social determinants and health equity; educating local organizations, policy makers, health care professionals; and diversifying partners to ensure broader dialogue and engagement on health equity.

Learning Areas:
Diversity and culture
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe 5 characteristics of the current burden of HIV, STD, hepatitis and TB in the United States 2. Define 3 major social and structural determinants driving syndemics of HIV, STD, hepatitis and TB in the US today. 3. Describe 5 key approaches being implemented by CDC to improve health equity and tackle the social and structural determinants of health.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Health Disparities

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a medical doctor and accredited public health physician and infectious disease epidemiologist. I have more than 15 years experience working in HIV, STDs and sexual health and currently lead the HIV, STD, hepatitis and TB prevention program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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.