Association of Race and Gender with Use of Antiretroviral Therapy Among HIV-infected Individuals in the Southeastern United States

BACKGROUND: Women and minorities continue to account for a higher proportion of AIDS incidence and mortality than their male and white counterparts. This study examined whether race and gender were associated with antiretroviral use among HIV-infected individuals in the southeastern US. METHODS: Multivariate regression analyses were used to identify whether race and gender predicted use of a protease inhibitor (PI) or non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) from 1996 to 2000 among individuals receiving HIV primary care. RESULTS: Female gender and nonwhite race were significantly associated with a lower likelihood of being prescribed a PI or NNRTI at baseline. At the follow-up measure three years later, fewer individuals of minority race and female gender were prescribed a PI or NNRTI; however, these differences had declined and were no longer statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Efforts are needed to improve prompt access to advances in HIV therapeutics for women and minorities and to address continued disparities in HIV care by race and gender.