NCJ Number
199152
Journal
Public Health Reports Volume: 117 Issue: 1 Dated: 2002 Pages: S60-S66
Date Published
2002
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This study examined gender and racial differences in health outcomes among African-American, Hispanic American, and white drug users.
Abstract
The authors explain that disparities between health and the utilization of health services exists between men and women and between different ethnic groups. This becomes particularly troublesome when HIV-related illnesses are not treated. In this study, the authors sought to uncover gender and ethnic group disparities in hospitalization rates and discharge diagnoses for a group of HIV-positive and HIV-negative drug users in New York City. The study’s participants were enrolled in a long-term methadone treatment program in a Bronx hospital and took part in a study called the HERO Study from 1996 through 2000. This group of opiate drug users included HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients. During this time period, those patients who were HIV-positive were offered the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), which dramatically reduced HIV-related illnesses and deaths. Results of the study showed that female drug users had higher rates of hospitalization than male drug users, regardless of HIV status. The authors found no association between ethnicity and hospitalization. The authors call for more research concerning the success of HAART treatments for men and women, since this research did not touch upon this aspect of successful health outcomes. Tables, references