A Spatial-Temporal Relationship Between New HIV Diagnosis and Social Determinants of Health By Census Tract in Houston/Harris County: 2000-2010 (CSTE Health Disparities Pilot Project)

BACKGROUND:  Poverty, residential stability, and unemployment rates are associated with the number of newly HIV diagnosed residents in 2008 and 2009 in Houston/Harris County.

METHODS:  The study will associate the data from the Enhanced HIV/AIDS Reporting System (eHARS) to social determinants of health data in the Census using residential address at HIV diagnosis in 2000 and 2010. Sex, age groups, race/ethnicity and transmission risk groups will be considered in the analysis. Cases will be included in the analysis if they were first diagnosed with HIV in Houston and were 13 years of age at the time of diagnosis. Cases will be geocoded and mapped to census tract level and published only in an aggregate form.

RESULTS:  Analysis will be conducted in early 2013. We anticipate the number of new HIV diagnosis to be associated with extreme poverty across time. 

CONCLUSIONS:  Findings from this investigation will be used to describe the epidemiological trend of HIV across time and to identify underserved communities in Houston as it related to demographic characteristics of the newly HIV diagnosed individuals and social determinants of health of the communities.