+ BAY AREA NETWORK for POSITIVE HEALTH Engaging the Invisible: Locating and Linking the Long-Term, Out-of-Care PLWH in the Bay Area
+ Background 650,000 PLWH are not receiving HIV care in the United States HIV treatment is critical to ending the pandemic. Estimated 8,000 individuals in San Francisco and Alameda County (Oakland), CA with known HIV not receiving adequate care. Little is known about the contextual realities that keep PLWH out of care in the resource-rich setting of the SF Bay Area.
+ Methods Collaboration of 12 CBOs, HIV clinics, and county Departments of Public Health Health. Clients are located through a variety of outreach strategies Data are collected on: Barriers to care Experience of stigma Quality of Life Needs Demographics Eligible individuals are offered assistance to access HIV care and other support services.
+ Client Characteristics Known HIV+ average of 10 years 34% reported no HS diploma or equivalent 63% over 40 years old 66% reported living in someone else’s home, a treatment center, SRO, shelter, or outdoors. 10 Attempts on average to engage 95 clients (63%) linked to HIV care in average 56 days
+ Barriers Percent of Clients Reporting Barrier 50 44 40 39 39 40 30 20 10 0 Drug Use Transportation Homelessness Competing Priorities
+ Conclusions 1. Barriers to care have been persistent and difficult to remediate. 2. Other priority needs must be met before linking to HIV medical care. 3. Extra time and additional resources are imperative to reach and link these individuals critical to the containment of the pandemic.
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