Posts
The Chicago Department of Public
Health presented a report at the 2012 Chicago LGBTQ Health and Wellness
Conference on November 30. The report compared findings from the CDC-funded
National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System surveys done in 2008 and 2011, and
it shows a substantial increase in HIV testing, awareness of HIV status, and
access to medical treatment among Chicago men who have sex with men (MSM).
Young black men, the city’s only subpopulation currently experiencing annual
increases in HIV diagnoses, provided the report with the most encouraging
numbers.
At some point during their lifetime,
almost all MSM in Chicago have been tested for HIV; 57 percent are meeting the
CDC guidelines of undergoing at least annual testing. Young black MSM reported
the highest rate of annual testing, with 71 percent. Chicago has experienced a
decrease across races in the number of persons who are unaware of being
HIV-infected: in 2011, only 22 percent were unaware of being HIV-infected,
compared to 52 percent in 2008. Two thirds of black MSM were not aware of their
infection in 2008; now just one third are unaware, according to Nikhil
Prachand, senior epidemiologist at the Chicago Department of Public Health.
Those testing HIV-positive are far
more likely to be on medication. HIV-positive black MSM taking HIV medications
almost doubled from 2008 to 2011—44 percent in 2008 and 84 percent in 2011. The
proportion of Hispanic and white MSM on antiretrovirals also increased. Not all
numbers were so encouraging. The 2011 numbers revealed that the percentage of
HIV-positive MSM increased slightly since 2008; however, this is likely to continue,
as people with HIV continue to live longer and healthier lives. Twenty-one
percent of survey respondents tested positive for HIV in 2011, up from 18
percent in 2008.
Racial disparities have continued in
the most recent survey. Since 2005, there has been a gap in new diagnoses,
particularly between black and white MSM, explained Prachand. In 2011, 35
percent of black MSM survey participants tested HIV-positive, compared to 13
percent of Hispanic and 17 percent of white participants. Community representatives
focused on the social determinants of HIV infection, such as incarceration,
unemployment, and low educational attainment. The Chicago Area HIV Integrated
Services Council will use data from the report to make funding recommendations
to be presented to the city for 2014 programs.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
