Linking HIV-infected persons of color and injection drug users to HIV medical and other services: the California Bridge Project.
Our objectives were to describe the strategies and successes in linking out-of-treatment HIV-infected persons of color and injection drug users (IDUs) to a comprehensive HIV care, treatment, and prevention program and other community services. Peer-based outreach staff at 21 sites throughout California provided assessments and referrals to 1453 persons living with HIV but without routine care. A linkage was defined as the receipt of a referred service. Half (49.7%) of persons of color and 41.6% of IDUs received services at a California Early Intervention Program (EIP) site after the date of first contact with peer staff; 58.1% of clients referred to EIP were linked to the program. IDUs were less likely to link to EIP. However, IDU clients were less likely to be referred to EIP, and more likely to be referred and linked to other community programs. Interventions such as the California Bridge Project can effectively link HIV-infected persons from marginalized populations to care, treatment, and prevention services. Programs that address immediate needs such as housing are more appealing to IDUs than programs offering HIV medical care.
ETR Associates, Sacramento, California 95818, USA. fredm@etr.org
Fred
F
Molitor
Christina
C
Kuenneth
Jenny
J
Waltermeyer
Marisol
M
Mendoza
Arthur
A
Aguirre
Kama
K
Brockmann
Carol
C
Crump
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000379:methods; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents