|
|
Volume 2: No. 2, April 2005
SPECIAL TOPICS
ORIGINAL RESEARCH: FEATURED
ABSTRACT FROM THE 19TH NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CHRONIC DISEASE
PREVENTION AND CONTROL
An Alternative to Identifying and Engaging the Underserved, Out-of-Care, HIV High-Risk Population
Erum Khan Hadi, Sabrina Jaar-Marzouka, Trina Hiemke, Lisa Cardinale
Suggested citation for this article: Khan Hadi E, Jaar-Marzouka S, Hiemke T, Cardinale L. An alternative to identifying and engaging the underserved, out-of-care, HIV high-risk population [abstract].
Prev Chronic Dis [serial online] 2005 Apr [date cited]. Available from: URL: http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2005/
apr/04_0142y.htm.
PEER REVIEWED
Track: Health System Change
The objective of this project was to provide and assess the effectiveness of a mobile screening and referral program for the medically underserved, high-risk, and difficult-to-reach population of Dutchess County, New York. By U.S. Census 2000 population estimates, 80% of the population of Dutchess County is white, 9.3% is African American, and 6.4% is Hispanic. However, African Americans are
15 times more likely and Hispanics almost 11 times more likely than whites to have HIV. We used an outreach van for HIV screening and referrals at nontraditional service hours and at high-risk venues in two low-income neighborhoods with the greatest burden of HIV disease.
Mobile van outreach workers surveyed each individual screened, and results were reviewed to assess the needs of the HIV-positive out-of-care clients. Outreach service forms and screening forms were analyzed to quantify the number of clients served. Lastly, follow-up phone calls to designated service providers verified whether clients referred made medical visits.
In 2003, the outreach van screened 179 individuals and identified 35 (19.5%) HIV-positive individuals.
Of the 35 HIV-positive individuals, outreach workers linked 22 (62.8%) to primary care.
Of these 22, 17 (77.3%) were African American and 5 (22.7%)
were Hispanic. Dutchess County has an estimated 657 HIV/AIDS-positive
individuals out of care; the outreach van identified and provided services to 5.3%
(35/657) of this population.
Two of the biggest challenges the program faces are the need to contact high volumes of people to identify the individuals with HIV infection and the
issue of safety of the outreach staff and security of the van in high-risk neighborhoods. The success of the mobile screening program can be attributed to the following factors: 1) basic primary care services are brought to the client; 2) the outreach van is
staffed with racially diverse peers, outreach workers, and a nurse; 3) the program does not label the van as an HIV-care provider only
but provides various other low-threshold screenings, education, and support services; and 4) over time, trusted community leaders referred others in the community to use the van services.
This initial evaluation indicates that the mobile van outreach program is successful in keeping the minority, out-of-care population in underserved neighborhoods engaged in primary care. In addition, the outreach van provides an opportunity for surveillance of HIV and the general health status of high-risk communities; it also increases access to primary care through unique partnerships
among service providers.
Corresponding Author: Erum Khan Hadi, BSc, MPH, Epidemiologist, Dutchess County Department of Health, 387 Main St, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. Telephone: 845-486-3750. E-mail: ehadi@co.dutchess.ny.us.
Back to top |
|
