Non-Linkage to Care and Non-Viral Suppression among Hispanic/Latino Persons by Birthplace and Social Vulnerability-United States, 2021

• Published in: Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities
• Main Authors: Morales, Juliet A, Gant Sumner, Zanetta, Hu, Xiaohong, Johnson Lyons, Shacara, Satcher Johnson, Anna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland 19-08-2024
• Subjects: HIV; Linkage to care; Social vulnerability; Hispanic/Latino; Birthplace; Viral suppression
• ISSN: 2196-8837; 2196-8837
• DOI: 10.1007/s40615-024-02133-7

Assessing individual- and community-level factors may help to explain differences among Hispanic/Latino adults with diagnosed HIV not linked to care and without viral suppression in the United States.
We analyzed CDC's National HIV Surveillance System data among Hispanic/Latino persons aged ≥ 18 years with HIV diagnosed during 2021 in 47 states and the District of Columbia and linked cases via census tracts to the CDC/ATSDR's Social Vulnerability Index (SVI). Adjusted prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals for non-linkage to care and non-viral suppression were estimated using Poisson regression model.
Among 5,056 Hispanic/Latino adults with HIV diagnosed in 2021, 51.5% were born in the United States, 17.3% in Mexico, 9.2% in Central America, 11.1% in South America, 1.8% in Puerto Rico, 6.8% in Cuba, and 2.4% in the Caribbean. Compared with U.S.-born Hispanic/Latino adults, those born in Mexico and South America had a lower prevalence of non-linkage to care. Hispanic/Latino adults born in Mexico, South America, and the Caribbean (excluding Puerto Rico and Cuba) had a lower prevalence of non-viral suppression, compared with those born in the United States. No significant differences were observed among SVI quartiles for either care outcome.
This study aimed to challenge the narrow perspective on HIV care outcomes by examining the impact of birthplace and social vulnerability among Hispanic/Latino adults. To increase HIV care and prevention among Hispanic/Latino persons, research must evaluate health disparities within the group, and efforts are needed to better understand and tailor interventions within the diverse Hispanic/Latino population.