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MSM receiving HIV care report variety of unmet ancillary health care needs

Men who have sex with men who received medical care for HIV in 2013 and 2014 reported not getting all the medical care they needed, according to data published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

“MSM in HIV medical care have substantial unmet needs for ancillary services, which puts them at risk for health complications and jeopardizes their care and treatment outcomes,” Nicholas P. DeGroote, MPH, of the CDC National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, and colleagues wrote. “… Addressing the ancillary service needs of MSM can improve health outcomes and reduce HIV-related health disparities in the United States.”

Researchers used data from the Medical Monitoring Project, a surveillance system for clinical and behavioral characteristics of adults in outpatient HIV treatment for 2013 to 2014, which collected data from face-to-face and telephone interviews from June 2013 to May 2015. Unmet needs were defined as services that patients reported needing within the last 12 months but never received. They found approximately 23% had an unmet need for dental care, and 19% reported an unmet need for eye or vision care. In addition, 12% had an unmet need for food or nutrition services, 8% needed an HIV peer support group, 7% needed transportation assistance, 7% did not have necessary shelter or housing, and 6% said they were not receiving needed mental health care. Unmet needs were most common among young, non-Hispanic black, and Hispanic and Latino patients.

"Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men are disproportionately affected by HIV in the United States,” DeGroote and colleagues wrote. “Ancillary services, defined as services that support retention in HIV medical care and assist with day-to-day living, can improve the health of HIV-infected MSM and help them achieve viral suppression.” – by Jason Laday

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.