title: Foreign born status and HIV/AIDS: a comparative analysis of HIV/AIDS characteristics among foreign and U.S. born individuals.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to observe differences in HIV characteristics between the foreign and U.S. born HIV population. The study sample consisted of individuals, ≥13 years of age, who have been diagnosed with HIV and are patients of the Lexington Bluegrass Care Clinic. For the comparison analysis, the sample was divided into two groups (n = 1070), foreign born and U.S. born. Compared to U.S. born patients, foreign born patients were younger at the time of their HIV diagnosis (31 years vs. 36 years, P = 0.005), of Hispanic origin (63.1% vs. 1.1%, P < 0.001), and reported heterosexual contact as their mode of transmission (67.7% vs. 33.9% P < 0.001). Foreign born patients enrolled into care at a much lower CD4+ count and compared to the U.S. born, they were more likely to be classified as late testers (53.9% vs. 32.8%, P = 0.006). There were many differences found between foreign born and U.S. born HIV patients. Upon enrolling into care, foreign born individuals were more likely to have multiple OI's and have an AIDS diagnosis. In regards to testing, foreign born individuals were more likely to have tested late for HIV compared to their U.S. born counterparts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, The University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 405036, USA. tncraw2@uky.edu
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.forename: Glyn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Caldwell
authors.forename: Heather M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Bush
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Browning
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thornton
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D000328:Adult; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D019352:Censuses; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007629:Kentucky / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult