title: State of the ART: Characteristics of HIV infected patients receiving care in Mississippi (MS), USA from the Medical Monitoring Project, 2009-2010.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mississippi, the poorest state in the US, has a very high prevalence of HIV and among the highest HIV infection rates and AIDS-adjusted mortality rates in the country. African Americans, who suffer the worst health care disparities in the US, account for 76% of people with HIV in MS. The purpose of this study is to describe those in care for HIV and determine the factors associated with anti-retroviral treatment (ART) and viral suppression.
  
  
  METHODS
  The CDC's Medical Monitoring Project collects surveillance data from 23 project areas in the US, including Mississippi, using annual probability sampling of persons in care for HIV. Data were collected from in-person interviews and medical record abstraction in 2009. The surveillance period was the 12 months prior to the interview date.
  
  
  RESULTS
  212 randomly selected participants represented a nationally representative weighted sample of 3190.4. Participants had a mean of 3.71 provider visits during the surveillance period. Geometric mean for CD4 count = 438.91 (95% CI 402.25-475.56). Overall 80.80% (95% CI 75.30%- 86.29%) were on ART, and 68.12% (95% CI 62.69%-73-56%) had undetectable viral load. Males (65.15%) were less likely to achieve undetectable viral load compared to females (78.30%) after controlling for individuals who were on ART (p = 0.01). Viral suppression was not associated with age, race or sexual risk factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although Mississippi has a high proportion of individuals out of HIV care, the majority in care is on ART and has suppressed viral loads. However, men are less likely to achieve virological suppression than females.
authors.forename: Arti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nunn
authors.forename: Sudharshanam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karakala
authors.forename: Imran
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sunesara
authors.forename: Kendra
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Parham
authors.forename: Leandro
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mena
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008922:Mississippi