HIV/AIDS
What an illness
My life is meaningless
You make my life lifeless
You make me hopeless
What an illness

You don’t care who you kill
It old and young
Big and small
Bad or good
What an illness

The sky was blue
Now its black
People hate each other
Because of you HIV/AIDS
What an illness

By SN, Primary school KaNyamazane, South Africa

As depicted in the poem above, written by a young child living with HIV in South Africa, HIV and AIDS has carried a reputation deeply rooted in fear, shame, and distrust.  Stigmas have impacted patient disclosure, provider discussion, and have limited early screening and diagnosis of at risk populations¹. Once thought of as a disease only extending across international borders, Georgia is now ranked #5 in the United States (U.S.) for some of the highest rates of HIV in our nation.  The rising rates in downtown Atlanta specifically, have been compared to rates of HIV in third world countries, such as “Zimbabwe, Harare or Durban^2.”  As if these statistics aren’t alarming enough, adolescents and young adults, ages 13-24, accounted for 22% of all new HIV infections in the U.S. in 2015—that’s roughly 1 in every 5 young people affected by this virus^3.  In a 2005 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System assessment (YRBS), almost half of high school students surveyed nationwide reported having had sexual intercourse, yet only 11% had ever been tested for HIV⁴.  Adolescents and young adults quickly became an at-risk cohort, and in response to this new epidemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) made national recommends in 2006 for routine, opt-out HIV testing beginning at 13 years of age.  Interestingly, prior studies concluded not only that many clinicians had poor knowledge of these recommendations made over 10 years ago, but that the prevalence of HIV testing did not significantly change amongst high school students between the 2005 and 2015 YRBS’s.

Adolescents and young adults have the most challenges in links to primary care, mainly due to limitations in transportation, health insurance, and concerns for breeched confidentiality.  As a result, approximately 60% of HIV-positive adolescents remain unaware of their status.   Of adolescents who did see a primary provider, only half of primary care physicians even touched on sexual content, and the average amount of time discussing a sexual history was 36 seconds⁵.  It is our duty as providers to have open conversations with each one of our adolescent patients regarding their sexual history, preferences and practices.  It is also important that they understand the results will remain confidential and that every effort will be made to contact the patient directly with any new positive results. Per official recommendations, all patients 13-64 years of age are recommended to have at least one HIV test in their lifetime.  Persons who frequent high prevalent settings, including homeless shelter, prisons, and adolescent clinics, along with persons engaging in risky sexual behavior (multiple sexual partners, MSM, sex in exchange for money, substance abusers), may be tested at least once per year, or as frequent as every 3-6 months.

The most sensitive and specific tests for HIV are 4^th generation antigen-antibody tests.  This is highly encouraged over others as it will more accurately capture true positives as soon as 4 weeks after exposure.  Positive tests should be relayed in person, not over the phone, and those patients can be referred to the Grady Ponce Center for further management and treatment.

Together we can normalize HIV screening in the adolescent and young adult population, reduce stigma associated with HIV/AIDS, and assist in managing this public health crisis.

For more information on the Grady Ponce Center, please visit: https://www.gradyhealth.org/specialty/ponce-de-leon-center/

or Contact Ponce Clinic Nurse-Deborah Ferris-404-516-4340 for any additional questions

References:

1. 2017 August 29. HIV Stigma and Discrimination.  Retrieved from: https://www.avert.org/professionals/hiv-social-issues/stigma-discrimination
2. Huddleson D. Atlanta HIV Epidemic Compared to Third World Countries. WSB-TV 2 Atlanta 2016. Retrieved from: http://www.wsbtv.com/news/2-investigates/atlantas-hiv-epidemic-compared-to-third-world-african-countries/263337845
3. Health TGDoP. HIV Surveillance Fact Sheet, 2014. 2016
4. Laura Kann P, Tim McManus, MS, William A. Harris, MM, Shari L. Shanklin, MPH, Katherine H. Flint, MA, Joseph Hawkins, MA, Barbara Queen, MS, Richard Lowry, MD, Emily O’Malley Olsen, MSPH, David Chyen, MS, Lisa Whittle, MPH, Jemekia Thornton, MPA, Connie Lim, MPA, Yoshimi Yamakawa, MPH, Nancy Brener, PhD, Stephanie Zaza, MD. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance-United States 2005. Center for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2006;55(SS-5):19-22
5. Alexander, S. C., Fortenberry, J. D., Pollak, K. I., Bravender, T., Davis, J. K., Ostbye, T., Shields, C. G. (2014). Sexuality Talk During Adolescent Health Maintenance Visits. JAMA Pediatrics, 168(2), 163.doi:10.1001/jamapdiatrics.2013.4338