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Factors That Impede HIV Testing Among American Indians/Alaska Natives

The numbers of HIV and AIDS diagnoses for American Indians and Alaska Natives represent 1% of the total number of cases of HIV and AIDS reported in the United States. However, the number of HIV
diagnoses among American Indian/Alaska Native populations as a proportion of their total populations means that this group ranks third in rates of HIV and AIDS diagnoses, with African Americans ranking first and Latinos ranking second. [CDC AIAN fact sheet 2011]

During 1997 to 2000, 50.5% of American Indians and Alaska Natives who responded to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey reported that they had never been tested for HIV. This percentage was higher in the southwestern United States, where 58.1% of the American Indians and Alaska Natives reported never having been tested. [CDC Surveillance AIAN 2004]

Access to HIV testing and issues concerning confidentiality are important for many American Indians and Alaska Natives. For example, at the time of AIDS diagnosis, more American Indians and Alaska Natives, vs members of other races/ethnicities, lived in rural areas. [Bertolli 2004] Those who live in rural areas may be less likely to be tested for HIV because of limited access to testing, including those available through the US Indian Health Service facilities. [Denny 2003] Also, American Indians and Alaska Natives may be less likely to seek testing because of concerns about confidentiality in close-knit communities, where someone who seeks testing is likely to encounter a friend, a relative, or an acquaintance at the local healthcare facility.

Other potential impediments may include:

The relatively high levels of poverty and of low education levels, limiting knowledge of HIV risk factors and access to testing and care facilities [DeNavas 2004, Census 2010]
Substance abuse, with illicit drug use higher among American Indians/Alaska Natives (12.8%) than among members of other races/ethnicities [SMHSA 2005 survey]
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	3. Promoting HIV Testing in Diverse Populations Curricula 1 2 3 4 AETC-NMC Home Curricula Home Glossary Feedback

	About Curriculum 3 Module 1: U.S. HIV Epidemiology Learning Objectives & Pretraining Assessment The HIV Epidemic in the United States The HIV Epidemic, cont. By Risk Group Key Events in the US HIV Epidemic (early 1980s - late 1990s) (2000 - present) African American Populations Hispanic/Latino Populations MSM Populations Asian and Pacific Islander Populations American Indian/Native Alaska Populations Summary References Assessment Questions Module 2: Recommendations for Routine HIV Testing Learning Objectives & Pretraining Assessment Development of HIV Screening Recommendations Rationale Underlying the 2006 Recommendations Revised Recommendations for HIV Testing Summary References Assessment Questions Module 3: Benefits of Early Testing and Risks of Delayed Testing Learning Objectives & Pretraining Assessment Timing of Initiation of HAART Guidelines on Starting Antiretroviral Therapy Benefits Associated With Early Therapy Initiation Diagnosis in the ED Risks of Delayed HIV Diagnosis and Treatment Summary References Assessment Questions Module 4: Barriers to Testing and Strategies to Improve Rates of Routine HIV Testing Learning Objectives & Pretraining Assessment Discovering Barriers to Wider Use of HIV Screening Provider-Related Barriers Impact of State and Local Laws and Regulations Population-Specific Barriers Factors That Impede HIV Testing Among Latinos Factors That Impede HIV Testing Among American Indians/Alaska Natives Factors That Impede HIV Testing Among Asian/Pacific Islanders Strategies to Improve Routine HIV Testing Working With Community Organizations Summary References Assessment Questions Module 5: HIV Testing Technologies Learning Objectives & Pretraining Assessment Point-of-Care Testing vs Laboratory-Based Testing Confirmatory Tests Availability of Results Point-of-Care Testing Issues Key Resources for Understanding and Employing HIV Testing Technologies Summary References Assessment Questions Case Studies Suggested Activities	Factors That Impede HIV Testing Among American Indians/Alaska Natives The numbers of HIV and AIDS diagnoses for American Indians and Alaska Natives represent 1% of the total number of cases of HIV and AIDS reported in the United States. However, the number of HIV diagnoses among American Indian/Alaska Native populations as a proportion of their total populations means that this group ranks third in rates of HIV and AIDS diagnoses, with African Americans ranking first and Latinos ranking second. [CDC AIAN fact sheet 2011] During 1997 to 2000, 50.5% of American Indians and Alaska Natives who responded to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey reported that they had never been tested for HIV. This percentage was higher in the southwestern United States, where 58.1% of the American Indians and Alaska Natives reported never having been tested. [CDC Surveillance AIAN 2004] Access to HIV testing and issues concerning confidentiality are important for many American Indians and Alaska Natives. For example, at the time of AIDS diagnosis, more American Indians and Alaska Natives, vs members of other races/ethnicities, lived in rural areas. [Bertolli 2004] Those who live in rural areas may be less likely to be tested for HIV because of limited access to testing, including those available through the US Indian Health Service facilities. [Denny 2003] Also, American Indians and Alaska Natives may be less likely to seek testing because of concerns about confidentiality in close-knit communities, where someone who seeks testing is likely to encounter a friend, a relative, or an acquaintance at the local healthcare facility. Other potential impediments may include: The relatively high levels of poverty and of low education levels, limiting knowledge of HIV risk factors and access to testing and care facilities [DeNavas 2004, Census 2010] Substance abuse, with illicit drug use higher among American Indians/Alaska Natives (12.8%) than among members of other races/ethnicities [SMHSA 2005 survey] « BACK NEXT »
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3. Promoting HIV Testing in Diverse Populations

Factors That Impede HIV Testing Among American Indians/Alaska Natives