Service use patterns in HIV/AIDS case management: a five-year study

Over the course of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the profile of the client population has changed. Increasingly, individuals infected with HIV identify injection drug use and heterosexual contact as their risk factors. Additionally, women are increasingly affected by the epidemic. This study examines individuals enrolled in an HIV/AIDS case management program over a 5-year period. Although the number of clients served per year remained relatively stable, the number of clients with injection drug use histories and the percentage of women on the caseload have increased consistently. The percentage of clients requiring services and the amount of services used increased in the areas of attendant care, mental health services, and skilled nursing care. Additionally, the annual mean use of services increased in the areas of in-home supportive services and hours of case management. These data suggest that as individuals receiving HIV/AIDS case management services are found to have complicating social and economic factors, their need and use of services will increase.