The changing epidemiology of HIV/AIDS in Tennessee
Heavrin, B.S.; Jones, T.F.; Shavor, T.; Schaffner, W.
Tennessee Medicine Journal of the Tennessee Medical Association 97(8): 357-360
2004
ISSN/ISBN: 1088-6222 PMID: 15376711 Document Number: 567490
We describe the changing epidemiology of HIV/AIDS in Tennessee to identify opportunities for improved response to the epidemic. Health department records of all new cases of HIV/AIDS in Tennessee from January 1992 through December 2001 were examined. Cases were defined according to CDC criteria and classified as HIV or AIDS based on diagnosis in the initial report. During the ten-year study period, 14,278 new cases were reported; 67% were HIV and 33% were AIDS. Incidence in males was three times higher than females. The rate among blacks was seven times higher than whites. From 1992-1996, 17% of cases had a primary risk factor of heterosexual contact, increasing to 26% in 1997-2001 (P<0.01). The proportion of new cases with a diagnosis of AIDS was higher in non-metropolitan than metropolitan areas (35% vs. 21%, P<0.01). Intervention efforts should include targeting to blacks, females, heterosexual exposure, and persons in non-urban communities.