Association of race and gender with use of antiretroviral therapy among HIV-infected individuals in the Southeastern United States.
BACKGROUND
Women and minorities continue to account for a higher proportion of AIDS incidence and mortality than their male and white counterparts. This study examined whether race and gender were associated with antiretroviral use among HIV-infected individuals in the southeastern US.


METHODS
Multivariate regression analyses were used to identify whether race and gender predicted use of a protease inhibitor (PI) or non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) from 1996 to 2000 among individuals receiving HIV primary care.


RESULTS
Female gender and nonwhite race were significantly associated with a lower likelihood of being prescribed a PI or NNRTI at baseline. At the follow-up measure three years later, fewer individuals of minority race and female gender were prescribed a PI or NNRTI; however, these differences had declined and were no longer statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Efforts are needed to improve prompt access to advances in HIV therapeutics for women and minorities and to address continued disparities in HIV care by race and gender.
Reif
Susan
S
Center for Health Policy, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
Whetten
Kathryn
K
Thielman
Nathan
N
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; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D015144:Southeastern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors