Ryan White CARE Act service use by Asian/Pacific Islanders and other clients in three California metropolitan areas (1997-1998)

Abstract

The HIV epidemic disproportionately affects historically underserved members of racial/ethnic minorities. This paper compares HIV service use patterns for 653 Asians and Pacific Islanders (APIs) with those of other racial and ethnic minority clients (N = 28,201) at three selected Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resource Emergency (CARE) Act grantee sites in California. Study results show a relatively high proportion of APIs with advanced HIV disease. APIs use hospital-based HIV clinics at relatively high rates, and they use HIV case management, housing assistance, day/respite care, food/nutrition, substance abuse treatment, and health education services in relatively low numbers. Research suggests that social, cultural, and economic factors may influence health seeking behaviors and providers' practices. While there are relatively few APIs living with HIV in the US, the rate of API population growth from immigration underscores the need for service providers to take into account cultural and social factors to improve access to treatment.