Tarrant County residents living with HIV/AIDS face stigma and health disparities
The HIV diagnosis hit Wil Mitchell, 41, by surprise in 2012.
He didn’t know what to think and thought his life was over. Mitchell said he became depressed because of not knowing very much about the virus.
Stigma concerning having HIV can lead to patients being socially isolated, face stereotypes by society and have feelings of shame.
“I decided what I wanted to do was change the negative aspect of it (the diagnosis) into a positive,” Mitchell said. “I didn’t want anyone to feel like I felt when I was first diagnosed.”
Mitchell now works at Fort Worth’s AIDS Outreach Center to help patients navigate their medical care. The center, which was created in 1986, serves nearly 2,000 people in North Texas.
Tarrant County had the fourth highest number of residents in the state living with HIV (6,209), and the third highest number of AIDS cases (130), according to an April report by the Texas Health and Human Services.
Seeking medical care
The human immunodeficiency virus, HIV, can attack the body’s immune system. The most severe phrase of HIV infection is acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, AIDS, if not treated. HIV medication can slow or prevent the progression of the infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A November report by the CDC found that gay and bisexual men account for the majority of new HIV infections each year in the United States. Black and Latino men were the most affected.
Over the years, federal and local officials have worked to decrease the amount of new cases and increase prevention.
Mitchell said his first sign of discrimination after his diagnosis was the lack of support by loved ones. He made it his mission to educate them about HIV and that it was a “second chance in life” for him.
At the AIDS Outreach Center, Mitchell attends medical appointments with patients to help them feel comfortable and make sure they understand their care.
“I’m just the added layer of support for them,” Mitchell. “They can talk to me about anything.”
Health disparities in Texas
Crystal Howell, assistant professor of pharmacotherapy at the University of North Texas Health Science Center, said there are socio-economic disparities among people living with HIV/AIDS.
People at risk for getting HIV are able to take PrEP, pre-exposure prophylaxis, as prevention. PrEP is able to reduce the risk of HIV by about 99%, according to the CDC. However, access to the medication is difficult for some due to costs and lack of medical insurance.
“PrEP is one of our best ways for prevention in terms of trying to decrease the HIV epidemic,” Howell said.
The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, a federal initiative, provides funding for state and local organizations to treat those who are low-income. The program stated it helped 88% of its clients in 2019 be virally suppressed.
Medication is able to make patients live longer, Howell said. The medical community is noticing patients may experience other health issues, like high blood pressure and diabetes, as the age.
The University of North Texas Health Science Center is conducting a study to understand how community pharmacists can help provide better care for patients living with HIV/AIDS as they become older.
Texas public health officials are seeing high amounts of new cases among young adults. The majority of HIV diagnoses from Jan. 1 to June 30, 2020 were reported in people ages 25-29, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Kelly Allen Gray, executive director of the AIDS Outreach Center, said it has seen a spike in new HIV diagnoses among African-American women in Tarrant County.
A rise in STIs and intimate partner violence
JPS Healing Wings Outpatient Center, created in 1991, serves 2,000 patients a year. It helps people with HIV/AIDS through testing, medication, cancer screenings, pain management, counseling, education, and transportation assistance.
Eve Asuelime, practice manager for the clinic, said it has seen a rise in sexually transmitted infections in Tarrant County, including syphilis.
The total of new cases of syphilis in Tarrant County went from 358 in 2011 to 778 in 2018, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Community leaders have seen patients in Tarrant County experience other concerns, like housing instability and intimate partner violence.
Mitchell said many of his clients need help with housing due to stigma after their diagnosis. Housing insecurity can lead someone to not make treatment a priority, according to Mitchell.
Women experiencing violence in a relationship are more than four times at risk for contracting a STI, including HIV, according to the CDC.
Resources:
- AIDS Outreach Center: 400 N Beach St STE 100, Fort Worth, TX. 817-335-1994.
- HELP Center for LGBT Health and Wellness: 1919 8th Ave, Fort Worth, TX. 817-332-7722.
- JPS Healing Wings Outpatient Center: 1350 S Main St #1600, Fort Worth, TX. 817-702-1399.
