Medical and support service utilization in a medical program targeting marginalized HIV-infected individuals.
BACKGROUND
One strategy to facilitate HIV health care services utilization is to incorporate support services with medical services. We developed a program that delivers HIV medical care and support services to marginalized people, and evaluated the association between support and medical services utilization.


METHODS
We extracted data on 218 newly enrolled program participants 3 months prior to through 6 months after program enrollment, and analyzed associations between support and medical services.


RESULTS
Case management visits (AOR=1.95, 95% CI 1.04-3.67) and group visits (AOR=2.59, 95% CI 1.30-5.16) were associated with greater odds of quarterly medical visits. Outreach visits were associated with greater odds of having a medical visit in a traditional medical setting (AOR=2.31, 95% CI 1.15-4.67).


CONCLUSIONS
Case management, support groups, and outreach were associated with HIV medical visits. Further research exploring how integration of support services into HIV medical programs can improve health care delivery is crucial for health policy and program development.
Cunningham
Chinazo O
CO
Medicine and Family & Social Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10467, USA. ccunning@montefiore.org
Sanchez
John-Paul
JP
Li
Xuan
X
Heller
Daliah
D
Sohler
Nancy L
NL
D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D019090:Case Management; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D003191:Comprehensive Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006126:Group Processes; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy*; D040261:Harm Reduction; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012944:Social Support; D012947:Social Work / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014504:Urban Health; D035862:Vulnerable Populations