The HIV Counseling and Testing Resource Directory is developed by a state health department in Northeastern USA to assist human service providers to connect clients with local HIV C&T resources. The Directory has been updated in 2001 using information from a mail survey to current HIV C&T service providers receiving state funds or reimbursed by Medicaid for C&T services. Survey recipients were asked to review service information pertaining to their agencies and made corrections to the survey if necessary; otherwise, existing information is assumed to be up-to-date and correct. Over 63% of contacted providers responded to the survey. This survey also allows a unique opportunity to investigate the distribution of HIV C&T providers by need for service in small areas. The purpose of this study is two-fold – first, to determine the extent to which HIV C&T service providers are concentrated in high need areas; second, to evaluate service accessibility after controlling for community characteristics. Service needs are operationalized as the Community Need Index (CNI), a composite measure of 10 ZIP-code level health indicators. ZIP codes are classified as having high, moderate, or low need according to their respective CNI scores. Service accessibility is determined by three measures – the availability of weekend/evening hours; the availability of services conducted in languages other than English; and the availability of assistance to allay the cost of services. Community characteristics, such as median household income and language proficiency are measured using 1990 census data. Implications for service opportunities and further research are discussed.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participants will be able to – 1. Understand the spatial distribution and accessibility of HIV C&T service providers in communities with different level of service needs and characteristics; 2. Identify new opportunities to provide HIV C&T services to communities most in need of such services; 3. Utilize the methodology to conduct similar analysis using different samples from other jurisdictions; 4. Formulate new questions in future research on the provision of HIV C&T services.
Keywords: Access to Care, Geographic Information Systems
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.