Poverty and the HIV Health Disparity

The Season for Change Advent StudyWeek Two

Reflection on Putting Faith into Action

▪ What “challenge” did you take on after last week’s study?

▪ Feel free to share …– Thoughts– Concerns – Challenges– Triumphs

Health Disparity

▪ What is a health disparity?– Occurrence of a disease at greater levels among

certain population groups

▪ Differences may occur by– gender– race or ethnicity– education– income– disability– geographic location – sexual orientation

HIV Health Disparity – U.S.

▪ Who has been most affected by HIV in U.S.?– African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans

▪ African Americans –12% of total US population –45% of all AIDS cases reported in the country

▪ Hispanics –14.4% of the US population in 2005 –18.9% of persons who received the AIDS diagnosis

New Infections in the U.S.

▪ In 2007, African American and Hispanic teens and young adults accounted for …–87% of new infections among 13-19 yr. olds

in U.S.–79% of new infections among 20-24 yr. olds

in U.S.

▪ But together African American and Hispanic teens make up only 32% of entire age group!

Global HIV Health Disparity

What areas most affected globally?

▪ Sub-Saharan Africa– 68% of people living with HIV worldwide – 70% of new infections among adults and children – 67% of the world’s AIDS-related deaths in 2010 – In 2012, 56 million orphans in Africa. 27% of those became

orphans due to HIV/AIDS-related deaths

▪ Caribbean– 2nd highest rate of HIV in the world

Something is Wrong With This Picture!

A “Pandemic for the Poor”

▪ Poverty & income disparity contribute to HIV health disparity

▪ Poverty rates within the following populations– non-Hispanic whites – 9.9%– Asians – 12.1% – African Americans – 27.4%– Hispanics – 26.6%

Racism and White

Privilege

Wider Income Gaps

Higher Incidences

of HIV

Rates of Persons Living with an HIV Diagnosis & Poverty Rates, by County, 2010

Persons Living with an HIV diagnosis

Poverty Rates

* Data are not shown to protect privacy. ** State health department requested not to release data. † Data not available because the data source does not publish these data for this jurisdiction.Note. Data include persons with a diagnosis of HIV infection, regardless of the stage of disease at diagnosis, and have been statistically adjusted to account for reporting delays and missing risk-factor information, but not for incomplete reporting. Data Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention.

Global South

▪ UN definition of global poverty = living on less than $1.25 a day

▪ Sub-Saharan Africa and Caribbean have some of the highest rates of poverty

▪ Extreme income disparities– Industrialized nations- 15:1–Sub-Saharan Africa- 24:1–Caribbean- 46:1

Why Are People Living in Poverty So Affected?

▪ Possible exposure to HIV-risk behaviors – Injection drug –Unprotected sex

▪ Even greater risk factors– Limited/no access to health care (due to

geography and/or limited funds)– Lack of adequate, comprehensive sex-

education

Why?

It’s Complicated

If/Then

If…▪ People living in

poverty are at higher risk of getting HIV

▪ And a disproportionate percentage of African American and Hispanic communities in U.S. and people living in the Global South live in poverty

Then…

▪ These communities are disproportionately affected by HIV

Stigma

▪ Stigma of HIV?

▪ Stigma of people living in poverty?

Did You Know?

▪ Current federal minimum wage in U.S. is $7.25

▪ You can work FULL-TIME at this wage and STILL fall at/below the national poverty line

▪ Federal minimum wage ≠ living wage

Source: http://www.epi.org/resources/budget/

"Every person has the right to a job at a living wage.”

Social Principles ¶163C

Factors of Global Poverty

▪ Government corruption

▪ Civil war

▪ Natural disasters

▪ Education quality and availability

▪ Healthcare quality and availability

▪ Maternal and infant mortality

▪ Limited food

▪ Limited drinking water

▪ Child marriage

▪ Gender-based violence

▪ Human trafficking

Why Should We Care

▪ About people infected with HIV/AIDS?

▪ About people living in poverty?– Deuteronomy 15:10-11– Psalm 82:3-4– Psalm 140:12– Proverbs 31:8-9– Isaiah 58:6-7– Luke 14:12-14– Romans 12:13– 1 John 3:17-18

Advent Reflection & Resources

▪ Visit gbcsumc.info/HIV-Advent to download handouts and additional material.

▪ For additional information, visit the United Methodist Global AIDS Fund websitewww.umcor.org/UMCOR/Programs/Global-Health/HIV-AIDS