Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part D Coordinated HIV Services and Access to Research for Women, Infants, Children, and Youth (WICY) Grant uri icon

abstract

  • Model of Care: The East Carolina University HIV program (ECUHIVP), through the continued funding of Ryan White Part D (RWPD), including funding under the Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI), is the primary provider of a comprehensive model of HIV medical care to the predominantly minority population in rural eastern North Carolina (ENC) since the 1980s. ECUHIVP, located in Greenville, North Carolina (N.C.), is a "one-stop-shop" for providing primary HIV medical care and supportive services to a population with a demonstrated HIV/AIDS disease burden. Target Population and Service Area: ECUHIVP is the only RWPD funded program in ENC providing HIV care and support services to HIV-positive Women (25 years and older), Infants (up to 2 years old), Children (2 and 12 years old), and Youth (ages 13-24; WICY). From 2019 and 2021, ECUHIVP provided services to approximately 809 WICY living with HIV. The RWPD funding requested will continue providing medical and support services to WICY in the predominantly rural counties of Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Duplin, Edgecombe, Gates, Greene, Halifax, Hertford, Hyde, Jones, Lenoir, Martin, Nash, Northampton, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt, Tyrell, Washington, Wayne, and Wilson. However, ECUHIVP serves as the primary HIV medical provider for an approximate 30 county region in ENC. According to NC HIV surveillance data, approximately 3,712 people living with HIV (PLWH) live in the 28 counties captured by RWPD funding. 1-in-5 patients live at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), while over half live at or below 100% FPL. Nearly 80% of our patients are of Black/African American descent. Primary Objectives and Quality Improvement Measures: Providing comprehensive HIV heath care and support services to WICY living with HIV in ENC; increasing access to care to support linkage and retention in care (RIC) for HIV-positive WICY; implementing an evidence-based intervention to decrease time to HIV care and starting Antiretroviral Treatment (ART; Kilcrease et al., 2020) sooner; reducing HIV-related health disparities and inequities for WICY by implementing evidence-informed interventions to those most disproportionately impacted by HIV disease; and working collaboratively with prevention partners in our HIV network to promote HIV testing and linkage to HIV care for those newly HIV diagnosed or those re-engaging back into care. Quality improvement (QI) projects for the 2022-26 funding cycle will focus on program-wide continued efforts, including with WICY on improving (a) Viral Load Suppression (VLS), (b) RIC, and (c) increased testing and education of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI), with an emphasis towards populations with the most significant demonstrated need: Black/African American women and young Black men.

date/time interval

  • August 2023 - July 2024