Online Program

290507
Challenge of meeting the needs of women color enrolling in HIV care: The role of shifting barriers over time


Monday, November 4, 2013 : 9:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.

Elizabeth Eastwood, PhD, Dept Health & Nutrition Sciences, CUNY School of Public Health, Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY
Jeffrey Birnbaum, MD, MPH, Dept. Pediatrics, Downstate Medical Center, SUNY School of Public Health, Brooklyn, NY
Rachael Peters, MPH, LMSW, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, FACES/HEAT Network, Brooklyn, NY
Jennifer Lee, MPH, HEAT Program, Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY
Background and Methods: HIV+ women of color who are new or at risk of falling out of care? have been enrolled prospectively in medical care at 4 sites in Brooklyn using peer outreach worker-case manager pairs since November, 2010 as part of a larger national demonstration project to retain women in care. We report on the first 2 years' participants in Brooklyn and address barriers to care in comparing new vs. at risk women. We hypothesized that women retained in care would report fewer barriers (possible range 0-30) at enrollment and have more health concerns (14 item CDC-HRQOL) than those who dropped out. We also hypothesized that barriers to care would change over time. Findings: 151 women enrolled, 63 (41.7%) new and 88 (58.3%) at risk of dropping out of care. Mean age was 38.2 (±12.8). 80% were of African descent, 76% US born, 74% were single, 49% high school or higher education,18% employed/school, 95% public insurance, and 26% unstable housing. 70 of the 109 who had been in care for 12+ months for 12 were interviewed, and 39 dropped out. From baseline data, no statistical differences in sociodemographic variables, barriers to care, and CDC HR-QOL distinguished retained vs. drop-outs. Among those in care at 12 months, changes in reported barriers and signifcantly better global self-assessed health were found. Conclusions: Since reported barriers shifted over time, psychosocial care plans should reflect these changes to retain vulnerable populations in HIV care.

Learning Areas:

Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs

Learning Objectives:
Describe and analyze complex challenges in keeping women of color in HIV care.

Keyword(s): HIV Interventions, Women and HIV/AIDS

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I conceptualized the study, carried out the statistical analyses, and drafted the abstract for the paper.
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.