Optimizing treatment for African Americans and Latinos with HIV/AIDS

Abstract

HIV/AIDS is a disease that has a disproportionate negative impact on the African-American and Latino communities when compared with the general population. African Americans account for more than 50% of new AIDS cases, though they comprise only 12% of the general population. More than one-third of AIDS-related deaths in the United States have been among African Americans. Many factors contribute to the HIV/AIDS healthcare disparities seen in the African-American and Latino communities. These factors include medical issues (such as resistance to antiretroviral therapy, toxicities of medications and hepatitis-C coinfection) and social factors (such as a lack of faith in the healthcare system, cultural circumstances and poor access to healthcare services). Healthcare providers can take steps to improve HIV care for African Americans and Latinos. Distrust of the medical establishment can be addressed by increasing the number of culturally sensitive healthcare providers. Communication is the first step toward establishing the trust of patients and minimizing the devastating effects of perceived institutional bias that may lead many HIV patients to be diagnosed late in the course of the disease. Medical and cultural issues faced by African Americans and Latinos should also be addressed in treatment guidelines. When healthcare providers take steps to overcome the medical and cultural issues facing African Americans and Latinos, HIV patients will have access to more effective disease management.