People in Connecticut Live in an Environment where HIV Infection is Prevented and People Living with HIV Disease Live Longer and Better Quality Lives.
Proportion of known HIV-positive adolescents and adults (in care) with suppressed viral loads (i.e., 200 or less copies of virus per milliliter).
Current Value
91.7%
Definition
Story Behind the Curve
Evidence shows that antiretroviral therapy (ART) use contributes to reduction in HIV transmission and helps HIV positive individuals live longer healthier lives; thus, increasing the number of HIV positive people with a suppressed viral load has become a Healthy Connecticut 2020 goal and a US Health and Human Services objective. CT DPH has been working with its partners over the past couple of years to improve the number of HIV positive individuals with a suppressed viral load and continues to make positive progress in this direction.
These data are current as of January 2022. 2021 data are expected early in 2023. Note: data for 2020 should be interpreted with caution due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on access to HIV testing & care related services.
Partners
Potential Partners:
Connecticut Department of
Public Health; Connecticut Department of Correction; Connecticut Division of
Criminal Justice;
State Department of Education; local public health agencies, public health
professional associations; faith-based organizations; laboratories; health care providers including primary
care and infectious disease physicians, community health centers, college and university health services , and
hospitals; health professional associations; health insurers; pharmaceutical companies; community
service agencies that address specific populations such as women, youth, homeless people, communities of color,
and LGBT populations; organizations and coalitions focused on HIV/AIDS; schools of public health and
medicine; HIV/AIDS research programs and institutes; and others.
What Works
Treatment as prevention strategy was proven in 2011 with the publication of findings from the HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) 052 study. This study validated early HIV treatment showing that the risk of transmitting HIV to an uninfected partner was reduced by 96%.
Strategy
Potential Strategies:
*Ensure housing support for persons with HIV/AIDS.
*Promote utilization of partner referral services for HIV-positive individuals.
*Promote condom use among sexually active youths and adults.
*Educate and train providers about routine HIV prevention, screening and treatment; and about CDC guidelines regarding testing and early treatment, referrals to prevention and treatment services, and culturally appropriate prevention, treatment and follow-up interventions.
*Implement routine screening programs to increase early detection of HIV; syringe exchange, drug treatment and other harm reduction measures; interventions to link and retain persons with HIV in care.
*Develop coordinated HIV surveillance, prevention and care data systems
*Explore use of pre-exposure prophylaxis as preventive measure for persons engaging in high-risk behaviors.
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