Understanding Barriers to Linking High Risk Heterosexual African American
Women to Care in the Upper South
As part of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s
HIV prevention strategic plan through 2010,
national goals were identified to reduce by half
the new HIV infections in the United States.
One of the 4 goals is to strengthen the national capacity
to monitor the human immunodeficiency virus epidemic
to better direct and evaluate prevention efforts.
In response to these goals, the CDC awarded funds to state health
departments to develop and implement a surveillance system
to monitor behaviors that put people at risk for HIV infection
in metropolitan statistical areas with high incidence of human
immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
Three target populations making up the majority of HIV/AIDS cases were selected
for surveillance including: men who have sex with men, injection drug users and
heterosexuals living in high risk areas.
In response to the increase of female HIV/AIDS cases,
CDC’s National HIV Behavioral Surveillance
project was awarded additional funds from the Minority
AIDS Initiative to conduct a one-time study of risk behaviors
of male partners of minority women.
The data collected on heterosexuals in high risk areas through NHBS will assist the
CDC to monitor behaviors of heterosexuals in high risk areas that lead to HIV infection and
individuals access to HIV prevention programs in high risk areas.
Information on risk and testing behaviors and access to prevention programs
will assist local health departments in funding
allocations to increase prevention services and lower the risk of HIV infection.
HIV/AIDS Res Treat Open J. 2016; 3(1): e3-e5. doi: 10.17140/HARTOJ-3-e009
