A recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine reveals that historical redlining continues to affect HIV treatment outcomes today. Redlining, a discriminatory practice where services were denied to residents of certain areas based on race, was officially abolished in 1968. However, its legacy persists, particularly in neighborhoods that were once redlined.
The study found that individuals living in historically redlined neighborhoods experienced a 15% longer delay in achieving viral suppression of HIV compared to those in non-redlined areas. This delay can significantly impact both personal health outcomes and public health efforts to control the spread of HIV. Dr. Scott Batey, a professor at Tulane University School of Social Work, emphasized that “HIV is, in many ways, a disease of poverty,” highlighting how past discriminatory practices continue to influence current health disparities.
The research, conducted with the Louisiana Department of Health and the University of Alabama at Birmingham, examined over 1,100 New Orleans residents diagnosed with HIV between 2011 and 2019. It was found that those in redlined neighborhoods achieved viral suppression almost a month later than those in non-redlined areas. This delay underscores the long-term effects of economic and healthcare access disparities created by redlining.
Dr. Batey noted that while the reasons for treatment delays are complex, including stigma and denial, the study clearly shows that “environment does play a factor. Place matters.” The findings are particularly relevant for cities across the Deep South, where redlining was prevalent and where more than half of new HIV cases are reported. By understanding these disparities, healthcare workers can better target interventions to promote timely HIV treatment and curb the epidemic.
See “Historical Redlining May Still Be Affecting HIV Treatment Today” (November 18, 2024)
