Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Advances in treatment have transformed HIV from a universally fatal disease into a chronic manageable illness that allows people living with HIV to live healthy lives with essentially normal life spans. Treatment is universally available regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. Mississippi has the seventh-highest rate of new infections in the U.S1. Even though treatment is highly effective and accessible, a minority of Mississippians living with HIV are effectively treated (virally suppressed). This study assesses the opinions of healthcare professionals across the state, to find the most reliable mechanisms to improve access to treatment. The study collected and analyzed 173 surveys from healthcare professionals about engagement and retention strategies in HIV care in Mississippi using REDCap. Healthcare professionals identified targeted screening, telehealth expansion, and comprehensive community-based programs as pivotal strategies for improving access to care and achieving better health outcomes, which incidentally are the areas of focus of the Mississippi Ryan White Part B Ending the HIV project. This study reaffirms the significance of the innovative strategies of the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative in tackling HIV care challenges. By addressing gaps in awareness and promoting equity-focused interventions thereby expanding access to HIV care, Mississippi has the potential to set a precedent in the nation on how to end the HIV epidemic, for other states grappling with similar disparities.
DOI: 10.67225/001c.159094
Language: English
Subfield: Infectious Diseases
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W7204272189