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AIDS in Indiana County Project Three: Solutions
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Phone Interview with Head of HIV/AIDS for Indiana County |
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*I called the main office at 814-534-6732. I received a call back from the Head of HIV/AIDS for Indiana County, who’s name I didn’t catch. I called her back at her work number. Hello, my name is Megan. I’m a student at Colgate University, but I’m originally from Homer City. I’m taking a course at college about AIDS, and for my final project I’m trying to determine what the AIDS problem is in Indiana County, and what is being done to solve it. Could I please have a few minutes of your time to ask you some questions? Thank you:
> I’m “Title 2.” We’re funded through a federal grant. It used to be called “Ryan White” but it has a new name now. In the grant, there are titles 1-5, and a couple letters. Title 2 is supportive services. Outpatient basis. Case management. Goal to keep people in medical care. I take care of housing referrals, emergency assistance, gas vouchers, housing assistance to stabilize lives. > I run 2 support groups a month. I’m trying to start one in Indiana County. I do teaching, Health education, talk about medication adherence. I do client advocacy, public advertising, work with clients [HIV/AIDS patients] to talk about their experiences at IUP
> To be honest, I honestly feel people have taken a lackadaisical attitude. They think AIDS is a chronic illness, that a couple pills will fix it. People aren’t dying because medications are good, so people aren’t protecting themselves. It’s not that services are not there, people don’t think it’s aproblem, but it is.
> I get the latest epidemiological data every year. [she looked up her data] Indiana County, this is living with AIDS cases, there are 15 males and 1 female as of 2005
>[She referenced her statistics again] Males have Sex with Males in 2005. Living AIDS cases. MSM 62.5%, IDU 6.3%, Heterosexual contact 12.5%, undetermined 18.8%
> It’s probably maybe mainly the gay population. But there are also men who don’t identify themselves as gay, but have a fling on side. > [Referencing her statistics again] By age: 40-49 is the age group with the largest number of AIDS cases. At World Aids Day in Allegheny County, I met a woman, 60 yrs old, who had found out 6 months ago. She got it from her husband who cheated. It’s not just a gay disease. > [Citing statistics] There are 13 white and 3 black people living with AIDS in Indiana County. The HIV+ number is higher > When I’m talking to High School or college students, I talk about surrogate markers for AIDS. In Indiana [looking at statistics]: 109 cases Chlamydia diagnosed last year. That’s a surrogate marker because HIV is right behind it. Unprotected sex. Gonorrhea 8 cases last year (diagnosed), and syphilis no cases. But in Allegheny County there were 60 cases syphilis. If having unprotected sex, who knows how many have HIV. 40% people infected don’t know they have HIV. Recommend testing. Find treatment
> I think there’s disconnect between being aware of the services that are available. What I’m trying to do, is make people aware of services available. If I get people referred to me, I can provide them with these services and information, but do they know about me? That the problem. That’s why I’m on the Health and Welfare council in three counties. I’m trying to get the word out so people know the services that are there.
> Oh I think in rural counties stigma is huge. Huge. There is significant isolation. We went to a health fair, had a display table set up. An older couple came up, and they took two steps back when they found out it was an AIDS table. You’re not going to get AIDS by going to a table about it! Ignorance, poor knowledge is a real problem
> I do support groups, I’m trying to get on going in Indiana County because there’s enough people there. There’s a stigma of coming to an [HIV/AIDS support] group. So we have it in a neutral place. In rural areas, everyone knows everyone else, everyone knows what everyone else is doing, and anything that could connect someone [to AIDS] is terrifying to them. I never say hi to clients in community, I will if they say hi to me, but people will ask, “how do you know her?” [snotty tone]”
> Housing is difficult in general. In Cambria County if you’ve been in jail can’t get into public housing. So if you’ve sold drugs, etc. you can’t get public housing. So those are much more difficult in rural counties. In Allegheny County they have other housing that people could access.
> We help subsidize, pay for transportation costs whether they get HIV care in Pittsburgh or Johnstown, we will help cover the costs. Again, if they know we’re here, we can help.
> I honestly don’t know. We have specialists here in Johnstown, in Pittsburgh, but HIV specialists in Indiana County, I don’t know. I like to reach out to infectious doctors in Indiana County, know there are support services
> I haven’t run into it in Indiana County. The state prison system has wonderful protocol. No problems whatsoever. With county prisons we have for whatever reason a difficult time. Huge example in Cambria County: people are discharged from county jail with no notice to us, with no medical assistance. Adherence to medication is essential, and it’s a problem if they’re not discharged on medications. We need to get them medications within three days, and how that’s covered [financially], we don’t know. It’s a HUGE problem. In state prisons, they tell us two months in advance when [an infected prisoner’s] discharge date is, we can set up medical appointments, they’re given a months’ worth of medication, so we have a month to play with, to take care of everything. No HIV drugs, BIG problem
> I don’t know. I’m very impressed with Malinda Cowle [Head of HIV Prevention Network at IUP]. She’s done a lot to get the word out, done a lot promoting community care management. I’v been in this position for a year and a half. I’m getting out there to see what needs are, and how we can best meet them.
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