This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
HIV treatment outcomes worse for women transitioning from jail
Women with HIV who transition from jail experience greater comorbidity and poorer treatment outcomes than HIV-infected men, according to new data published online.
"Women with HIV transitioning from jail to communities have distinct medical, psychiatric and social needs that need to be comprehensively addressed to achieve continuity of care and successful HIV treatment outcomes,” study researcher Jaimie Meyer, MD, of the infectious diseases section of Yale School of Medicine, told Infectious Disease News.
Jaimie Meyer
Meyer and colleagues wrote in The American Journal of Public Health that a disproportionate number of individuals with HIV cycle through correctional facilities each year — approximately one sixth of the HIV/AIDS population in the United States. Previous research has suggested that women fare better than men during incarceration. However, the researchers hypothesized that women — who face greater comorbid conditions than men — may experience poorer treatment outcomes after release from jail.
Data from the multi-site prospective cohort study, Enhancing Linkages to HIV Primary Care and Services in Jail Setting Initiative, were used to assess baseline and 6-month HIV treatment outcomes among 867 released jail detainees, of whom 31.9% were women.
Results indicated that, at baseline, the women were more likely than men to be younger, non-Hispanic white, married, homeless and depressed. Recent alcohol and heroin use were comparable between men and women.
At 6 months following release from jail, women were significantly less likely to meet key treatment goals, including retention in care (50% vs. 63%), receiving ART in the past week (39% vs. 58%), adhering to ART (28% vs. 44%) or achieving viral suppression (18% vs. 30%; P<.001 for each).
The researchers concluded that future interventions should account for the disparities in treatment outcomes observed between men and women who are in contact with the criminal justice system.
“These findings suggest gender-specific gaps in secondary HIV-prevention efforts that herald ‘treatment as prevention’ but have not reduced the 50,000 new HIV infections annually in the United States,” they wrote. “Clearly, a unique resource gap exists for HIV-infected women transitioning from jail — one that should be addressed by future interventions.” – John Schoen
Jaimie Meyer, MD, can be reached at 135 College Street, Suite 323, New Haven, Conn., 06510; email: jaimie.meyer@yale.edu.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.