United States: Navajo Confront an Increase in New HIV Infections

The Indian Health Service (IHS) reported 47new HIV cases on the Navajo reservation in2012 -- a 20-percent increase from 2011.Since 1999, HIV incidence in the Navajo tribehas increased fivefold, according to Dr.Jonathan Iralu, the report's author. Iralu partlyattributed the recent rise in diagnoses toearlier detection of the virus among tribemembers.When AIDS emerged on the reservation in thelate 1980s, patients tended to present late, andapproximately one-third of patients died soonafter diagnosis. Although improved treatmentand awareness campaigns initially loweredincidence and mortality, cultural stigmaremains a major barrier to HIV prevention. TheNavajo rarely disclose HIV infection or discussit publicly. IHS previously concluded that mostnew HIV cases originated among Navajo whotraveled off the reservation to urban areas;Iralu now fears that transmission is takingplace among tribe members on thereservation.Executive Director of the Navajo AIDS Network(NAN) Melvin Harrison noted that most ofNAN's 65 patients have not disclosed their HIVstatus. Approximately 75 percent of NAN'sclients are gay Navajo men who do not maketheir relationships public. Men who have sexwith men account for approximately half ofthe new HIV cases on the reservation. Theintimate nature of the reservation also createsa barrier, as clients may know the staff at theclinic.From 1998 to 2005, HIV incidence among theNavajo was close to the rate among whites andlower than among Hispanics and blacks.However, mortality has remained higheramong HIV-infected Navajo, possibly becauseof co-morbidity with diabetes and drug andalcohol abuse. NAN, IHS, and Dr. Iralu's clinichave increased prevention efforts, includingdistributing condoms, promoting awareness insocial media, and providing public servicemessages in Navajo.

Source:http://youngconcious.blogspot.com/2013/05/united-states-navajo-confront-increase.html

United States: Navajo Confront
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