Rural acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in low and high prevalence areas

Abstract

Background: Too little is understood about the spread of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in rural America. This study focuses on changes over 5 years in two low prevalence and two high prevalence human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) rural service areas.

Methods: An initial study conducted in 1993 provided a base line for the study. Each site was revisited in the summer of 1998. Data were analyzed by degree of rurality of the site, prevalence levels, and risk categories.

Results: Changes in the number of AIDS cases ranged from slow steady growth to increases of an epidemic magnitude. Some settings were characterized primarily by white homosexual men, and others had a more diverse population living in poverty.

Conclusions: Populations receiving priority for national AIDS funding should be expanded to include rural America as a target group, and funding should provide the latitude for communities to match their local needs.