Ryan White Title II Consumer Needs Assessment Southwest/Piedmont HIV Care Consortium HIV/STD Resources November 2007

Living with HIV or AIDS  22 million people worldwide  18,814 people in Virginia  1,430 people in the Southwest Region of Virginia

HIV consumer needs assessment  Provides the Southwest/Piedmont HIV Care Consortium with a management tool to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of HIV services  Satisfies the requirement that the Southwest/Piedmont HIV Care Consortium, a Part B Consortium, carry out an assessment of needs as outlined in the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act of 2006

Purpose of the assessment  To identify issues and concerns of individuals living with HIV/AIDS in Health Region III of Virginia  Information is used by the Consortium to ensure effective and efficient planning, for implementation and evaluation of HIV health and social services in Southwest Virginia

Methodology  In October six hundred seventy four(674) consumer surveys were distributed to 7 Ryan White Title II subcontractors in Southwest Virginia  Surveys were then distributed via case managers to clients between October 1 and October 31,  The four-page survey contained both closed and open-ended questions.  Self-addressed envelopes were provided for clients who chose to return the survey individually.   A total of two hundred seventeen (217) clients returned the consumer survey for a response rate of 32% of Ryan White clients.

Section I Demographics of Survey Respondents

Mostly males  GENDER  Male 58.8% [127]  Female 34.3% [74]  Trans.Male to Female.5% [1]  Trans. Female to Male.5% [1] Male Female Male to Female Transgendered Female to Male Transgendered Missing in System

Majority between ages of More People in the Age Range Participate in Ryan White Survey Number

Mostly Caucasian Race African American Caucasian/White Asian Pacific/Islander Native American/Alaskan Other

48.1% report college experience Educational Attainment Number Less than 12 th GradeHigh SchoolSome College Undergraduate DegreePostgraduate Degree

47.2% on disability Employment Full time Part time Unemployed looking for work Unemployed waiting on disability On disability Retired Other

44.4% have incomes of $10,000 or less Total Household Income Less than $10,000 $10,001- $20,000 $20001 to $30,000 $30,001- $50,000 $50,000 and above

22.7% have no health insurance None Medicaid Medicare Medicaid and Medicare Medicare and Supplemental Veteran’s Benefits Private Insurance

Section 2 Primary HIV Positive and AIDS Information

63.4% report having sex with men

Men having sex with men

41.2% were diagnosed by doctors AIDS Diagnosed by Doctor Yes No Don't Know

57.9% experience symptoms of HIV Have Had Symptoms of HIV YesNo Don't Know

Section 3 HIV Positive/AIDS Services Information

74.9% receive care within 6 months Length of Time to Start Receiving Services After Testing Positive Within a month1-6 monthsMore than 6 monthsMore than 1 year

Importance of early care/being afraid What Would have Helped to get Services Sooner Nothing- I got help right away Knowing how important early care was Not having to take care of family or others Knowing who to call/where to go Not using drugs or alcohol Not being so Afraid Other

Ryan White reaches 78.7% with services Currently Receiving RW Services YesNo Don't Know

55.6% visit doctor 3 or more times yearly In the Last Year, How Often have You Seen Your Doctor about HIV? Never 1-2 times 3-4 times More than 4 times

Transportation interferes with visits

Emergency room visits are few Emergency Room Visits Because of HIV/AIDS None 1-2 More than 2

81.5% feel the same or better Physical Health Compared to a Year Ago Worse SameBetter

Section 4 Knowledge and Information about HIV+/AIDS

92.1% say it’s easy to talk with doctors Easy to Talk with Doctors about HIV Treatment Yes No

79.2% say doctors explain things clearly Doctor Explains Things Clearly YesNo

89.8% know consequence of missed drugs Informed about Missed Doses of HIV Drugs YesNo

Doctors/Practitioners information source Who Gave You the Most Information About HIV+/AIDS Your doctor/nurse practitioner Nurse/Other healthcare worker Case manager/Social worker Friends Support groups Newspaper/Books Interne t Other

Doctors Give HIV+ Information Doctor has Discussed HIV Prevention Yes No

77.8% enrolled in Ryan White Currently Enrolled in RW Services YesNo Don't Know

Doctor visits/lab services top list Number of People Reporting Priority of Services Offered

Services needed - not offered Number of People Reporting Priority of Services Not Offered

Section 5 Consumer Needs

Health care unmet needs

Support services need/unmet need

Other services needs/unmet needs

Barriers to care

Summary Overall, the 2007 Ryan White Client Needs Survey indicates that clients are pleased with the services they are provided and that these services result in more needs being met than not. Areas of need that consistently show are financial in nature and may be a reflection of the relatively low levels of annual income reported by the respondents. Finally, more attention needs to be given to removing the barrier of “Not knowing where to go for services.” 

Ryan White Program In 1991 the Council of Community Services became lead agent for the Southwest/Piedmont HIV Care Consortium (S/PHCC) in central, Southside and Southwest Virginia. This coalition of agencies and individuals has provided HIV medical care and support services through local subcontractor sites in Covington, Danville, Floyd, Giles, Lynchburg, Marion, Christiansburg, Pulaski, Roanoke and Radford

HIV Resource and Training Center  Robert (Rob) Morrow is the Director of the HIV Resource and Training Center. He is a leading authority on HIV and AIDS in the Commonwealth of Virginia and across the United States. For more information regarding the Ryan White Program, the Southwest/Piedmont HIV Care Consortium or the Virginia HIV/AIDS Resource and Consultation Center, contact