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An Affordable HIV-1 Drug Resistance Monitoring Method for Resource Limited Settings
Published on: March 30, 2014
HIV screening among substance-abusing veterans in care
Nameeta M Dookeran1, James F Burgess, Candice C Bowman
1VA HSR&D Center for Health Quality, Outcomes and Economic Research, Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital, Bedford, MA 01730, USA. ndookeran@partners.org
Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
|April 7, 2009
Summary
HIV screening is low among individuals with substance use disorders in the VA system, with only 20% screened. This highlights a need for better recognition of substance use disorders as HIV risk factors.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Substance Use Research
Background:
- Increasing calls for HIV screening in individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs).
- Substance use disorders, including alcohol use, are recognized risk factors for HIV infection.
- The Veterans Health Administration (VA) system provides care for a large population with SUDs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of HIV screening among individuals with SUDs within the VA system.
- To identify predictors of HIV screening in this patient population.
- To assess the recognition of SUDs as HIV risk factors.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of screening for HIV infection.
- Inclusion of 371,749 patients with histories of SUDs using VA services.
- Adjustment for patient demographics and comorbid diseases.
Main Results:
- Only 20% of patients with SUDs showed evidence of HIV screening.
- HIV screening rates were lowest for alcohol use disorders alone (11%).
- Screening rates were higher in substance use programs (28%) and inpatient care (28%).
Conclusions:
- Findings suggest a low recognition of SUDs, particularly alcohol use, as HIV risk factors.
- Quality improvement initiatives are needed to enhance risk factor recognition and HIV screening.
- Increased screening can contribute to the fight against HIV infection.
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