Identifying regions of greatest need for ending the HIV epidemic: a plan for America
File(s)EndingtheEpidemic_JAIDS.docx (63.21 KB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In the 2019 State of the Union Address, President Trump announced a plan for "Ending the HIV Epidemic" in the United States, with a goal to reduce new HIV infections by 90% by 2030. Phase I of the plan set an intermediate goal of a 75% reduction within 5 years, focusing on select states and counties. METHODS: We assessed the feasibility of the first phase of the plan by estimating the fraction of HIV diagnoses that occur within the targeted region, using a statistical model to predict new HIV cases in each county. We suggested new areas that should be added to the current plan, prioritizing by both a "Density Metric" of new HIV cases and a "Gap Metric" quantifying shortcomings in antiretroviral therapy and pre-exposure prophylaxis uptake. RESULTS: We found the current plan targets less than 60% of new diagnoses. The plan should be expanded to Puerto Rico, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Maryland as well as parts of New York, North Carolina, Texas, and Virginia, areas which were prioritized by both metrics. CONCLUSION: Many of the highest priority areas, both by density of HIV cases and by lack of viral suppression and pre-exposure prophylaxis use, were not covered by the original plan, particularly in the South. The current plan to end the HIV epidemic must be expanded to these areas to feasibly allow for a 75% reduction in new HIV cases within 5 years.
Date Issued
2020-12-01
Date Acceptance
2020-08-05
Citation
JAIDS: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 2020, 85 (4), pp.395-398
ISSN
1525-4135
Publisher
Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
Start Page
395
End Page
398
Journal / Book Title
JAIDS: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes
Volume
85
Issue
4
Copyright Statement
© 2020 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
Sponsor
National Institutes of Health
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33136735
PII: 00126334-202012010-00001
Grant Number
UM1AI068617 Sub#0001014222
Subjects
Virology
1103 Clinical Sciences
1117 Public Health and Health Services
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
United States