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HIV Transmission in the United States: Considerations of Viral Load, Risk Behavior, and Health Disparities

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Abstract

Ongoing HIV transmission is related to prevalence, risk behavior and viral load among persons with HIV. We assessed the contribution of these factors to HIV transmission with transmission rate models and data reported to National HIV Surveillance and published rates of risk behavior. We also estimated numbers of persons with risk behaviors and unsuppressed viral load among sexual risk groups. The transmission rate is higher considering risk behavior (18.5 infections per 100 people with HIV) than that attributed to unsuppressed viral load (4.6). Since persons without risk behavior or suppressed viral load presumably transmit HIV at very low rates, transmission can be attributed to a combination of these factors (28.9). Service needs are greatest for MSM; their number with unsuppressed viral load engaging in unprotected discordant sex was 8 times the number of male heterosexuals and more than twice the number of female heterosexuals with high-risk transmission potential. While all persons with HIV need optimal care, treatment as prevention is most relevant when risk behavior is present among persons with unsuppressed HIV viral load.

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The findings and conclusions in this study are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, MS E-47, Atlanta, GA, 30333, USA

    H. Irene Hall & Philip Rhodes

  2. Department of Health, Behavior & Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA

    David R. Holtgrave

  3. ICF International, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Tian Tang

Authors
  1. H. Irene Hall
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  2. David R. Holtgrave
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  3. Tian Tang
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  4. Philip Rhodes
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Correspondence to H. Irene Hall.

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Hall, H.I., Holtgrave, D.R., Tang, T. et al. HIV Transmission in the United States: Considerations of Viral Load, Risk Behavior, and Health Disparities. AIDS Behav 17, 1632–1636 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-013-0426-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-013-0426-z

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