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Health policy

Sustained HIV Diagnosis Rate in the US: Social Determinants of Health Play a Key Role

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Investigations into the factors driving HIV diagnoses in the US have shed light on the significant role that Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) play in the sustained diagnosis rate. Contrary to expectations, the rate of HIV diagnoses has remained steady over the past decade, despite the availability of condoms and pre-exposure prophylaxis. Researchers from the Center for Health Policy and Health Services Research have identified five key SDoH factors that are associated with HIV diagnosis rates in US counties.

Key Takeaways:

  • Five SDoH factors are associated with HIV diagnosis rates in US counties: higher percent of renter-occupied housing with rent at least 30% of household income, percent of population with no health insurance, presence of medically underserved area, and percent of housing units that are overcrowded.
  • Associations with HIV diagnosis rates were significantly different between non-Ending the Epidemic (EHE) and EHE priority jurisdictions for factors such as percent of populations with less than a high school education, Index of Dissimilarity, and number of social organizations.
  • These findings suggest that addressing SDoH is crucial for reducing HIV transmission and improving health outcomes.
  • Centers such as the Center for Health Policy and Health Services Research are playing a crucial role in identifying SDoH drivers of HIV diagnoses and developing novel interventions to reduce HIV transmission.
  • Elizabeth Lockhart from the Center for Health Policy and Health Services Research is one of the authors of this study, along with Elyse Llamocca, Geoff Kahn, Amy Loree, and DeAnne Turner.
  • The study's conclusion emphasizes the importance of long-term efforts to develop interventions that can help reduce HIV transmission.

Statistics:

  • 344 US counties were included in the study.
  • 82 EHE priority jurisdictions were also examined in the study.
  • Additionally, 135, the page number of the source, was mentioned
  • The study used Poisson regression models to estimate associations between SDoH factors and HIV diagnosis rates.

Sources:

  • Social Determinants of Health and HIV Diagnosis Rates in U.S. Counties, Comparing Ending the Epidemic (EHE) and Non-EHE Priority Jurisdictions. AIDS and Behavior, 2025. (Springer|plenum Publishers, 233 Spring St, New York, NY 10013, USA)
  • NewsRx. Researchers from Center for Health Policy and Health Services Research Detail New Studies and Findings in the Area of HIV/AIDS [Social Determinants of Health and HIV Diagnosis Rates in U.S. Counties, Comparing Ending the Epidemic (EHE) and ...]. AIDS Weekly. September 22, 2025; p 135.

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