Association of race and gender with use of antiretroviral therapy among HIV-infected individuals in the Southeastern United States.

BACKGROUND

Women and minorities continue to account for a higher proportion of AIDS incidence and mortality than their male and white counterparts. This study examined whether race and gender were associated with antiretroviral use among HIV-infected individuals in the southeastern US.

METHODS

Multivariate regression analyses were used to identify whether race and gender predicted use of a protease inhibitor (PI) or non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) from 1996 to 2000 among individuals receiving HIV primary care.

RESULTS

Female gender and nonwhite race were significantly associated with a lower likelihood of being prescribed a PI or NNRTI at baseline. At the follow-up measure three years later, fewer individuals of minority race and female gender were prescribed a PI or NNRTI; however, these differences had declined and were no longer statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Efforts are needed to improve prompt access to advances in HIV therapeutics for women and minorities and to address continued disparities in HIV care by race and gender.