Although new treatments now mean that HIV is treated as a chronic disease rather than a fatal illness, the success of these treatments is impacted by an individual’s ability to begin treatment early in the disease. This access varies for different groups, particularly among low-income populations and those who are uninsured. The mortality rate for HIV also varies by race in Arkansas, with the death rate for blacks being almost 5 times higher than for whites.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is an important marker for a range of risky health behaviors and it can put a significant burden on the population and the health care system, with estimates suggesting that HIV can cost nearly $40,000 a year to treat the infection for the rest of one’s life.