The potential for elimination of racial-ethnic disparities in HIV treatment initiation in the Medicaid population among 14 southern states.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to explore the racial and ethnic disparities in initiation of antiretroviral treatment (ARV treatment or ART) among HIV-infected Medicaid enrollees 18-64 years of age in 14 southern states which have high prevalence of HIV/AIDS and high racial disparities in HIV treatment access and mortality.

Methods

We used Medicaid claims data from 2005 to 2007 for a retrospective cohort study. We compared frequency variances of HIV treatment uptake among persons of different racial- ethnic groups using univariate and multivariate methods. The unadjusted odds ratio was estimated through multinomial logistic regression. The multinomial logistic regression model was repeated with adjustment for multiple covariates.

Results

Of the 23,801 Medica

SUBMITTER: Zhang S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4000218 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature