2015-2019
GEORGIA MEDICAL MONITORING PROJECT SURVEILLANCE SUMMARY
BEHAVIORAL AND CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PERSONS WITH DIAGNOSED HIV INFECTION
INTRODUCTION
The Georgia Medical Monitoring Project Surveillance Summary, 2015-2019 is published by the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Section (HAES), 2 Peachtree Street NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30303. The Georgia Medical Monitoring Project Surveillance Summary, 2015-2019 is not copyrighted and may be used and reproduced without permission. Citation of the source is, however, appreciated. SUGGESTED CITATION: Georgia Department of Public Health, HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Section Medical Monitoring Project Surveillance Summary: Behavioral and Clinical Characteristics of Persons with Diagnosed HIV Infection, Georgia 2015-2019, https://dph.georgia.gov/georgia-medicalmonitoring-project-mmp, Published 4/22/2022, [Accessed: date]
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Publication of this report was made possible with the contributions of the Georgia Medical Monitoring Project (MMP) Team, the national MMP staff at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), assistance from HIV care facilities, and the cooperation of participants. Georgia MMP Team: Natalie Lucas, MPH; Kiswana Branch, MPH; LaShanna Daniels; Melissa Gousse, MPH; Timothy Lockhart, MPH, Shaunta Rutherford MPH, PhD; and Stephen Ray, MSPH. The report was prepared using code provided by CDC to replicate the national report, and the text is based on the national report: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Behavioral and Clinical Characteristics of Persons with Diagnosed HIV Infection--Medical Monitoring Project, United States, 2019 Cycle (June 2019May 2020). HIV Surveillance Special Report 25. https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/library/reports/ hiv-surveillance.html. Published August 2021. Accessed 02/04/2022.
This report was prepared by the following staff of the Georgia Department of Public Health: Stephen Ray, MSPH; Pascale Wortley, MD, MPH; Cherie Drenzek, DVM, MS.
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Table of Contents
COMMENTARY............................................................................................................................ 4 HIGHLIGHTS OF ANALYSES ...................................................................................................................5
TECHNICAL NOTES....................................................................................................................... 9 REFERENCES.............................................................................................................................. 10 ................................................................................................................................................. 11 TABLES...................................................................................................................................... 11
Table 1. Participants, by project area--Medical Monitoring Project, Georgia, 2015-2019 .....................12 Table 2. Characteristics of participants and estimated percentages of persons living with diagnosed HIV infection by selected characteristics--Medical Monitoring Project, Georgia, 2015-2019.......................13 Table 3. Stage of disease, CD4 counts, and viral suppression during the 12 months before the interview--Medical Monitoring Project, Georgia, 2015-2019 ..............................................................17 Table 4. Receipt and quality of, care--Medical Monitoring Project, Georgia, 2015-2019 ......................19 Table 5. Sexually transmitted disease testing during the 12 months before the interview, by sexual activity--Medical Monitoring Project, Georgia, 2015-2019..................................................................20 Table 6. Emergency department and hospital admission during the 12 months before the interview-- Medical Monitoring Project, Georgia, 2015-2019 ................................................................................21 Table 7. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) use--Medical Monitoring Project, Georgia, 2015-2019 ...............22 Table 8. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence among persons taking ART--Medical Monitoring Project, Georgia, 2015-2019 ...............................................................................................................24 Table 9. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) prescription, ART dose adherence, durable viral suppression, and geometric mean CD4 count by subgroups--Medical Monitoring Project, Georgia, 2015-2019 ..............26 Table 10. Depression and anxiety during the 2 weeks before the interview--Medical Monitoring Project, Georgia, 2015-2019 ...............................................................................................................28 Table 11. Tobacco and electronic cigarette use--Medical Monitoring Project, Georgia, 2015-2019.......29 Table 12. Alcohol use during the 12 months before the interview--Medical Monitoring Project, Georgia, 2015-2019.......................................................................................................................................... 31 Table 13. Noninjection drug use during the 12 months before the interview--Medical Monitoring Project, Georgia, 2015-2019 ...............................................................................................................32 Table 14. Injection drug use during the 12 months before the interview--Medical Monitoring Project, Georgia, 2015-2019............................................................................................................................34 Table 15. Gynecological care and reproductive health among women--Medical Monitoring Project, Georgia, 2015-2019............................................................................................................................35 Table 16. Sexual behavior during the 12 months before the interview among cisgender men and women--Medical Monitoring Project, Georgia, 2015-2019 .................................................................36
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Table 17. Sexual behavior during the 12 months before the interview among men who had sex with men (MSM), men who had sex only with women (MSW), and women who had sex with men (WSM)-- Medical Monitoring Project, Georgia, 2015-2019 ................................................................................38 Table 18. Met and unmet needs for ancillary services during the 12 months before the interview-- Medical Monitoring Project, Georgia, 2015-2019 ................................................................................40 Table 19. Intimate partner violence and sexual violence--Medical Monitoring Project, Georgia, 20152019 ..................................................................................................................................................42 Table 20. Prevention services received during the 12 months before the interview--Medical Monitoring Project, Georgia, 2015-2019 ...............................................................................................................43 Table 21. National indicators: homelessness, HIV stigma, and high-risk sex--Medical Monitoring Project, Georgia, 2015-2019 ...............................................................................................................44 Appendix: Methods and Definitions........................................................................................... 46 METHODS ..........................................................................................................................................46 DEFINITIONS ......................................................................................................................................49
Sociodemographic Characteristics .......................................................................................................................49 Clinical Characteristics ............................................................................................................................................49 Use of Health Care Services...................................................................................................................................49 Self-reported ART Medication Use and Adherence ...........................................................................................51 Depression and Substance Use.............................................................................................................................51 Sexual Behavior .......................................................................................................................................................52 Met and Unmet Needs for Ancillary Services......................................................................................................52 Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention National Indicators.........................................................................................52 ETHICS STATEMENT................................................................................................................................................53
REFERENCES ......................................................................................................................................53 HIV/AIDS RESOURCES................................................................................................................ 54
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COMMENTARY
At year-end 2019, an estimated 58,371 persons in Georgia were living with diagnosed HIV infection [1]. In 2019, the number of new HIV diagnoses in Georgia was 2,463 [1]. Although the National HIV Surveillance System (NHSS) collects information about persons with diagnosed HIV infection [2], other surveillance systems provide more detailed information about care seeking, health care use, use of ancillary services, and other behaviors [3]. In 2005, in response to an Institute of Medicine report outlining the need for representative data on persons living with HIV [4], the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) implemented the Medical Monitoring Project (MMP), which from 2009 to 2014 collected data from a 3stage probability sample of persons receiving HIV medical care [5]. In 2015, in response to recommendations stemming from an Institute of Medicine review of national HIV data systems [6], MMP sampling and weighting methods were revised to include all persons with diagnosed HIV infection regardless of HIV care status.
MMP is a cross-sectional, nationally representative, complex sample survey that assesses the clinical and behavioral characteristics of adults with diagnosed HIV infection in the United States and Puerto Rico. The MMP samples in cycle years 2015-2019 were selected in 2 consecutive stages: (1)
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United States and dependent areas and (2) adults aged 18 years with diagnosed HIV infection reported to NHSS as of December 31, the year prior to the cycle year (ex: December 31, 2014 for the 2015 cycle). Georgia is one of a total of 20 project areas from 16 states and Puerto Rico which were funded to conduct data collection for MMP during the 2015-2019 cycles.
This report presents unweighted frequencies and weighted prevalence estimates with 95% confidence intervals for selected characteristics. The estimates describe the characteristics of adults with diagnosed
HIV infection who lived in Georgia as of the sampling date for the cycle year in which they participated in the Georgia MMP, hereafter referred to as persons with diagnosed HIV or persons. The period referenced is the 12 months before the participants' interviews and medical record abstractions unless otherwise noted.
Statistical software (SAS, version 9.4) was used for analysis of weighted data [7]. Data are not reported for estimates with a coefficient of variation 0.30. Values with an absolute confidence interval width 0.30, and values with an absolute confidence interval width between 0.05 and 0.30 and a relative confidence interval width >130% are marked with an asterisk and should be interpreted with caution. No statistical tests were performed. Additional information on MMP is available at
https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/statistics/ systems/mmp/index.html.
HIGHLIGHTS OF ANALYSES
Response Rates
In total, 2,500 persons considered to be residents of Georgia were sampled from NHSS for cycle years 2015-2019, and 976 participated (Table 1). Adjusted for eligibility, the response rates were 33.5% (2015), 43.9% (2016), 44.6% (2017), 36.6% (2018), and 45.8% (2019).
Sociodemographic Characteristics
An estimated 75% of persons were male, 24% were female and about 2% were transgender (Table 2). Nearly half (44%) identified themselves as heterosexual or straight; 43% as lesbian or gay; 11% as bisexual; and 2% as another sexual orientation. An estimated 70% were black or African American, 20% were white, and 5% were Hispanic or Latino. Twothirds (68%) were aged at least 40 years, and 55% had received an HIV diagnosis at least 10 years earlier. Over half (62%) had more than a high school education and 96% were born in a U.S. state or territory. The estimated prevalence of homelessness among all persons with diagnosed HIV was 8%. About 15% of persons indicated that they moved in with other people due to financial issues and approximately 35% of peoples indicated moving one or more times in the past 12 months. An estimated 98% had health insurance or coverage for antiretroviral therapy (ART) medications: 42% had coverage through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, 30% had Medicaid, 38% had private health insurance, and 28% had Medicare. An estimated 39% had a disability, 43% were
unemployed, and 36% had household incomes at or below the federal poverty threshold. An estimated 18% received Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and 21% received Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
Clinical Characteristics
According to the CDC stage of disease classification for HIV infection [8], an estimated 55% of persons had ever had stage 3 (AIDS) disease (Table 3). An estimated 10% of persons had a geometric mean CD4 Tlymphocyte (CD4) count of 0199 cells/L. The estimated average geometric mean CD4 count among all persons was 582 cells/L, and the median geometric mean CD4 count was 552 cells/L (range: 2 2,124) (data not shown in table).
An estimated 68% of persons had an undetectable (<200 copies/mL) viral load at the most recent measurement, while 60% had undetectable viral loads at all measurements during the past 12 months (sustained viral suppression).
Use of Health Care Services
Overall, 97% had received outpatient HIV care during the past 12 months, and 99% had received outpatient HIV care during the past 24 months (Table 4). An estimated 79% were retained in care during the past 12 months, while 60% were retained in care during the past 24 months. An estimated 82% of persons had an ART prescription documented in the medical record during the 12 months before the interview. Of persons who met the clinical criteria for Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) prophylaxis, 39% had a prescription for PCP prophylaxis documented in the medical record.
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Among sexually active persons, an estimated 51% were tested for gonorrhea, 51% for chlamydia, 68% for syphilis, and 47% for all 3 sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) (Table 5).
An estimated 45% of persons were seen in an emergency department at least once, and 4% were seen at least 5 times (Table 6). An estimated 21% of persons were admitted to a hospital for an illness at least once.
Self-reported ART Medication Use and Adherence
An estimated 92% of persons were currently taking ART based on self-report (Table 7). Among the estimated 2% of persons without a history of ART use, 60%* had never taken ART because a health care provider advised a delay in treatment. Among the estimated 9% of persons with a history of ART use who were not currently taking ART, 25%* were not taking ART due to money or insurance problems. (* indicating percentage should be interpreted with caution)
Among persons taking ART, 58% took all of their ART doses in the past 30 days (Table 8). Among persons taking ART, 67% had never been troubled by ART side effects during the past 30 days; 17% had rarely been troubled. The most common reasons given for not taking one's most recently missed ART dose were forgetting (46%) and a change in one's daily routine or being out of town (35%).
Clinical Characteristics by Subgroups
The estimated prevalence of ART prescription documented in a medical record was 82% among males and 83% among females (Table 9). An estimated 83% of blacks or African Americans were prescribed ART, compared with 67%* of Hispanics or Latinos and 83% of
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whites. The estimated prevalence of ART prescription was 76% among persons aged 18 to 29 years and 84% among those aged 50 years or older.
The estimated prevalence of sustained viral suppression was 60% among males and 59% among females. An estimated 58% of blacks or African Americans had sustained viral suppression, compared with 46%* of Hispanics or Latinos and 73% of whites. The estimated prevalence of sustained viral suppression was 42% among persons aged 18 to 29 years and 69% among those aged 50 years or older.
Depression and Substance Use
The estimated prevalence of major or other depression in the past 2 weeks based on the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8) algorithm [9] was 18%, including 9% with major depression (Table 10). Based on the total PHQ-8 symptom score (see the appendix), an estimated 15% of persons had moderate or severe depression. The estimated prevalence of mild, moderate, or severe anxiety in the past 2 weeks based on the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) [10] was 23%, including 9% with severe anxiety.
The estimated prevalence of current smoking was 33%: 27% of persons smoked daily, and 3% less than monthly (Table 11). The estimated prevalence of alcohol use was 66%: 7% of persons drank alcohol daily, 19% weekly, 12% monthly, and 29% less than monthly (Table 12). An estimated 16% of persons engaged in binge drinking during the past 30 days.
An estimated 31% of persons used noninjection drugs for nonmedical purposes
(Table 13). In total, an estimated 28% used marijuana, 6% used poppers (amyl nitrite), 5% used cocaine, 3% used methamphetamines, and 3% used prescription opioids. Almost all persons did not use injection drugs for nonmedical purposes (Table 14).
Gynecologic and Reproductive Health
Among females, 90% reported receiving a Papanicolaou (Pap) test in the past three years (Table 15). An estimated 27% of females reported being pregnant at least once since testing positive for HIV infection.
Sexual Behavior
An estimated 40% of men had receptive anal sex with men, 39% had insertive anal sex with men, and 21% had vaginal sex (Table 16). An estimated 31% of men did not have vaginal or anal sex. Among women, 57% had vaginal sex, and 43% did not have vaginal or anal sex., An estimated 8% of both men who had sex with men and women who had sex with men engaged in high-risk sex (Table 17). In terms of prevention strategies among sexually active persons, an estimated 58% of men who had sex with men engaged in sex while sustainably virally suppressed, 70% had condomprotected sex, and 69% had sex with an HIVpositive partner. Among sexually active men who had sex only with women, 59% engaged in sex while sustainably virally suppressed, 73% had condom-protected sex, and 28% had sex with an HIV-positive partner. Among sexually active women who had sex with men, 55% engaged in sex while sustainably virally suppressed, 56% had condom-protected sex, and 28% had sex with an HIV-positive partner.
Met and Unmet Need for Ancillary Services
An estimated 50% of persons received dental care; 45% received HIV case management services; 42% received medicine through the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP); and 38% received services through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) (Table 18). An estimated 31% of persons had unmet needs for dental care; 16% for SNAP or WIC; 13% for shelter or housing services; 11% for meal or food services; 10% for mental health services; 10% for HIV case management services; 11% for transportation assistance; 7% for HIV peer group support; and 5% for patient navigation services.
Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Violence
An estimated 25% of persons had ever been physically hurt by a romantic or sexual partner, including 4% who experienced this in the past 12 months (Table 19). An estimated 16% of persons had ever been threatened with harm or physically forced to have unwanted sex.
Prevention Activities
An estimated 57% of persons received counseling from a physician, nurse, or other health care worker about HIV and STD risk reduction; 31% had a one-on-one conversation with an outreach worker, a counselor, or a prevention program worker about prevention; and 11% participated in a small-group session (excluding discussions with friends) to discuss the prevention of HIV and other STDs (Table 20). An estimated 50% of persons received free condoms from various organizations.
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Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention National Indicators The estimated prevalence of homelessness among persons who received outpatient HIV care in the past 12 months was 8% (Table 21). The median HIV stigma score (see the appendix) among all persons was 37. An estimated 7% of persons engaged in high-risk sex.
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TECHNICAL NOTES
POPULATION OF INFERENCE
For the 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 Medical Monitoring Project (MMP) data collection cycles (data collected June 1, 2015May 31, 2016; June 1, 2016May 31, 2017; June 1, 2017-May 31, 2018, June 1, 2018May 31, 2019; June 1, 2019-May 31, 2020 respectively), the population of inference was adults with diagnosed HIV (aged 18 years) living in Georgia as of December 31st of the year prior to the start of the data collection cycle.
DATA COLLECTION
Persons with diagnosed HIV were sampled for MMP using data from the National HIV Surveillance System (NHSS). Sampled persons were recruited to participate in person, by telephone, or by mail. To be eligible for MMP, the person had to be, as of December 31 of the year prior to the data collection cycle: living with diagnosed HIV infection, aged 18 years, and residing in Georgia.
A trained interviewer conducted either a computer-assisted telephone interview or an in-person interview. Persons who agreed to participate were interviewed over the telephone or in a private location (e.g., at home or in a clinic). The interview (approximately 45 minutes) included questions about demographics, health care use, met and unmet needs for ancillary services, sexual behavior, depression and anxiety, gynecologic and reproductive history (females only), drug and alcohol use, and use of prevention services. Participants were given a token of appreciation of $50 (2015, 2018,
and 2019 cycle) or $75 (2016 and 2017 cycles) in cash or the equivalent for participation.
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REFERENCES
1. Georgia Department of Public Health, HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Section HIV Surveillance Summary, Georgia 2019, https://dph.georgia.gov/epidemiology /georgias-hivaids-epidemiologysection/georgia-hiv-surveillance-data, Published March 2021, Accessed: 02/08/2022.
2. Nakashima AK, Fleming PL. HIV/AIDS surveillance in the United States, 19812001. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2003;32(suppl 1):S68S85.
3. McNaghten AD, Wolfe MI, Onorato I, et al. Improving the representativeness of behavioral and clinical surveillance for persons with HIV in the United States: the rationale for developing a population-based approach. PLoS One 2007;2(6):e550.
4. Institute of Medicine. Measuring What Matters: Allocation, Planning and Quality Assessment for the Ryan White CARE Act. Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 2004.
https://www.nap.edu/read/ 10855. Published November 7, 2003. Accessed January 11, 2019. 5. CDC. Behavioral and Clinical Characteristics of Persons with Diagnosed HIV Infection--Medical Monitoring Project, United States, 2019 Cycle (June 2019May 2020). HIV Surveillance Special Report 25. https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/library/report s/ hiv-surveillance.html. Published August 2021. Accessed 02/04/2022. 6. Institute of Medicine. Monitoring HIV Care in the United States: Indicators and Data Systems. Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 2012. doi:10.17226/13225. 7. SAS Institute Inc. SAS version 9.4. Cary, NC: SAS Institute; 2011. 8. CDC [Selik RM, Mokotoff ED, Branson B, Owen SM, Whitmore S, Hall HI]. Revised surveillance case definition for HIV infection--United States, 2014. MMWR 2014;63(RR-03):110. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/ indrr_2014.html. Accessed January 11, 2019.
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TABLES
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Table 1. Participants, by project area--Medical Monitoring Project, Georgia, 2015-2019
Project area
No. Sampled No. Participating % participatinga % of total
Georgia
2500
976
Note. Percentages might not sum to 100 because of rounding.
a Not adjusted for eligibility.
39.0
4.9
12
Table 2. Characteristics of participants and estimated percentages of
persons living with diagnosed HIV infection by selected
characteristics--Medical Monitoring Project, Georgia, 2015-2019
No.a
%b
95% CIc
Gender Male Female Transgenderd Sexual orientation Lesbian or gay Heterosexual or straight Bisexual Other sexual orientation Race/ethnicity American Indian/Alaska Native Asian Black/African American Hispanic/Latinoe Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander White Multiple races Age at time of interview (yr) 1824 2529 3034 3539 4044 4549 5054 5559 6064 65 Education Less than high school High school diploma or GED More than high school Country or territory of birth United States or U.S. territory Foreign born Time since HIV diagnosis (yr) <5
693
74.7
71.877.6
265
23.8
21.026.6
17
1.5
0.72.3
380
42.5
39.046.0
459
44.1
40.747.5
99
11.3
9.013.6
23
2.2
1.33.0
-
-
-
-
-
-
715
70.1
66.873.4
43
4.9
3.26.5
-
-
-
165
19.8
16.922.7
49
4.9
3.46.3
30
3.0
1.94.1
84
8.7
6.810.7
98
10.4
8.312.5
101
11.2
9.013.4
92
9.5
7.511.6
120
12.6
10.314.9
172
16.4
13.918.9
147
13.9
11.716.2
71
8.1
6.010.2
61
6.2
4.57.8
145
13.2
11.015.5
243
24.9
21.927.9
579
61.9
58.565.2
926
95.8
94.597.2
40
4.2
2.85.5
173
18.2
15.520.9
13
59
248
26.6
10
551
55.2
Homeless at any time, past 12 monthsf
Yes
84
8.1
No
883
91.9
Moved in with other people because of financial problems, past 12 monthsm
Yes
66
14.5
No
327
85.5
Number of times moved, past 12 monthsm
0
249
65.5
1
88
22.0
2 or more
56
12.5
Evicted from housing, past 12 monthsm
Yes
-
-
No
386
98.2
Incarcerated > 24 hours, past 12 months
Yes
57
5.3
No
910
94.7
Health insurance or coverage for antiretroviral medications, past 12 monthsg
Yes
949
97.5
No
15
2.5
Type of health insurance or coverage for antiretroviral medications, past 12 months
Ryan White
Yes
434
41.5
No
518
58.5
Medicaid
Yes
296
29.6
No
665
70.4
Private health insurance
Yes
354
38.1
No
599
61.9
Medicare
Yes
267
27.7
No
689
72.3
Other public insurance
Yes
31
3.2
No
921
96.8
Tricare/CHAMPUS or Veterans Administration
Yes
42
6.1
No
907
93.9
Insurance type unknownh
Yes
-
-
23.529.6 51.858.7
6.39.9 90.193.7
10.918.1 81.989.1
60.370.7 17.426.5
9.116.0
96.899.7
3.96.7 93.396.1
96.198.8 1.23.9
38.244.9 55.161.8
26.432.7 67.373.6
34.741.5 58.565.3
24.630.8 69.275.4
2.04.3 95.798.0
4.18.2 91.895.9
-
14
No
945
99.2
98.699.8
Any disabilityi
Yes
387
39.0
35.642.4
No
580
61.0
57.664.4
Received Supplemental Security Income (SSI), past 12 months
Yes
71
18.2
13.822.6
No
314
81.8
77.486.2
Received Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), past 12 months
Yes
76
21.0
16.325.6
No
309
79.0
74.483.7
Perception of general healthm
Poor
26
6.8
3.89.9
Fair
82
21.8
17.126.5
Good
163
41.2
35.746.7
Very good
76
18.9
14.623.3
Excellent
46
11.2
7.814.7
Went without food due to lack of money, past 12 months
Yes
183
19.1
16.421.8
No
783
80.9
78.283.6
Employment statusj
Employed
429
45.6
42.249.0
Unemployed
434
43.2
39.846.6
Student
24
3.0
1.74.4
Retired
80
8.2
6.210.1
Combined yearly household income (US$)k
019,999
424
45.5
42.049.1
20,00039,999
236
25.7
22.628.8
40,00074,999
151
17.7
14.920.6
75,000
95
11.0
8.813.2
Poverty guidelinesl
Above poverty threshold
565
64.1
60.767.5
At or below poverty threshold
341
35.9
32.539.3
Total
976
100
Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; GED, general educational development; CHAMPUS, Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services; US$, U.S. dollar; HHS, Department of Health and Human Services [footnotes only]. Note. Numbers might not add to total because of missing data. Percentages might not sum to 100 because of rounding. Excluded are values with a coefficient of variation 0.30, "don't know" responses, and skipped (missing) responses. Values with a denominator sample size <30, values with an absolute CI width 0.30, and values with an absolute CI width between 0.05 and 0.30 and a relative CI width >130% are marked with an asterisk and should be interpreted with caution. a Numbers are unweighted. b Percentages are weighted percentages. c CIs incorporate weighted percentages. d Persons were classified as transgender if sex at birth and gender reported by the person were different, or if the person chose "transgender" in response to the question about self-identified gender. e Hispanics or Latinos might be of any race. Persons are classified in only 1 race/ethnicity category. f Living on the street, in a shelter, in a single-roomoccupancy hotel, or in a car.
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g Persons could select more than 1 response for health insurance or coverage for medications (including antiretroviral medications). h Unknown insurance type means that the person had health insurance or coverage for medications (including antiretroviral medications), but the type of insurance or coverage could not be determined. i Includes physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. j Employed includes employed for wages, self-employed, or homemaker. k Income from all sources, before taxes, in the last calendar year. l Poverty guidelines as defined by HHS; the 2015 guidelines were used for persons interviewed in 2016 and the 2018 guidelines were used for persons interviewed in 2019. More information regarding HHS poverty guidelines can be found at https://aspe.hhs.gov/frequently-asked-questions-related-poverty-guidelines-and-poverty.
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Table 3. Stage of disease, CD4 counts, and viral suppression during
the 12 months before the interview--Medical Monitoring Project,
Georgia, 2015-2019
No.a
%b
95% CIc
HIV infection stage 3 (AIDS)d
Yes
562
54.5
51.058.0
No
410
45.5
42.049.0
Geometric mean CD4 count (cells/L)
0199
89
10.3
8.112.4
200349
114
14.2
11.716.8
350499
140
17.2
14.420.0
500
462
58.3
54.762.0
Lowest CD4 count (cells/L), past 12 months
049
38
4.4
3.05.9
50199
75
8.9
6.911.0
200349
142
17.4
14.620.1
350499
151
18.1
15.220.9
500
406
51.2
47.554.9
Viral suppression
Most recent viral load documented undetectable or <200 copies/mL
687
68.3
65.071.6
Most recent viral load documented detectable, 200 copies/mL,
289
or missing/unknown
31.7
28.435.0
Durable viral suppression
All viral load measurements documented undetectable or <200
604
copies/mL
60.0
56.663.5
Any viral load 200 copies/mL or missing/unknown
372
40.0
36.543.4
Total
976
100
Abbreviations: CD4, CD4 T-lymphocyte count (cells/L); CI, confidence interval; CDC, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [footnotes only]. Source of stage of disease information: CDC. Revised surveillance case definition for HIV infectionUnited States, 2014. MMWR 2014;63(RR-03):110. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/indrr_2014.html. Accessed June 23, 2021. Note. CD4 counts and viral load measurements are from medical record abstraction. Numbers might not add to total because of missing data. Percentages might not sum to 100 because of rounding.
17
Excluded are values with a coefficient of variation 0.30, "don't know" responses, and skipped (missing) responses. Values with a denominator sample size <30, values with an absolute CI width 0.30, and values with an absolute CI width between 0.05 and 0.30 and a relative CI width >130% are marked with an asterisk and should be interpreted with caution. a Numbers are unweighted. b Percentages are weighted percentages. c CIs incorporate weighted percentages. d HIV infection, stage 3 (AIDS): documentation of an AIDS-defining condition or either a CD4 count of <200 cells/L or a CD4 percentage of total lymphocytes of <14. Documentation of an AIDS-defining condition supersedes a CD4 count or percentage that would not, by itself, be the basis for a stage 3 (AIDS) classification.
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Table 4. Receipt and quality of, care--Medical Monitoring Project,
Georgia, 2015-2019
No.a
%b
95% CIc
Ever received outpatient HIV cared
Yes
972
99.6
99.1100.0
No
-
-
-
Received outpatient HIV care, past 12 monthsd
Yes
955
96.8
95.398.4
No
18
3.2
1.64.7
Received outpatient HIV care, past 24 monthsd
Yes
967
99.3
98.899.9
No
-
-
-
Retained in care, past 12 monthse
Yes
769
79.3
76.282.3
No
168
20.7
17.723.8
Retained in care, past 24 monthse
Yes
569
59.8
56.363.3
No
366
40.2
36.743.7
Prescribed ART, past 12 monthsf
Yes
827
82.3
79.485.2
No
149
17.7
14.820.6
Prescribed PCP prophylaxis, past 12 monthsg
Yes
42
38.8
29.048.6
No
67
61.2
51.471.0
Received influenza vaccination, past 12 months
Yes
294
75.3
70.580.1
No
99
24.7
19.929.5
Total
976
100
Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; ART, antiretroviral therapy; PCP, Pneumocystis pneumonia; MAC, Mycobacterium avium complex; CD4, CD4 T-lymphocyte count (cells/L) [footnotes only]. Note. CD4 counts, viral load measurements, prophylaxes, and vaccinations are from medical record abstraction. Measurement period is the 12 months before the interview unless otherwise noted. Numbers might not add to total because of missing data. Percentages might not sum to 100 because of rounding. Excluded are values with a coefficient of variation 0.30, "don't know" responses, and skipped (missing) responses. Values with a denominator sample size <30, values with an absolute CI width 0.30, and values with an absolute CI width between 0.05 and 0.30 and a relative CI width >130% are marked with an asterisk and should be interpreted with caution. a Numbers are unweighted. b Percentages are weighted percentages. c CIs incorporate weighted percentages. d Outpatient HIV care was defined as any documentation of the following: encounter with an HIV care provider, viral load test result, CD4 test result, HIV resistance test or tropism assay, ART prescription, PCP prophylaxis, or MAC prophylaxis. e Two elements of outpatient HIV care at least 90 days apart in each 12-month period. f ART prescription documented in medical record; persons with no medical record abstraction were considered to have no documentation of ART prescription. g Among persons with CD4 cell count <200 cells/L.
19
Table 5. Sexually transmitted disease testing during the 12 months
before the interview, by sexual activity--Medical Monitoring Project,
Georgia, 2015-2019
Total population
Sexually activea persons only
No.b
%c
95% CId
No.b
%c
95% CId
Gonorrheae
Yes, received test
425
45.8 42.349.4
303
51.1 46.755.5
No test documented
486
54.2 50.657.7
276
48.9 44.553.3
Chlamydiaf
Yes, received test
423
45.7 42.149.2
301
50.8 46.455.3
No test documented
488
54.3 50.857.9
278
49.2 44.753.6
Syphilisg
Yes, received test
587
63.8 60.467.3
398
67.5 63.371.7
No test documented
324
36.2 32.739.6
181
32.5 28.336.7
Gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis
Yes, received all 3 tests
380
41.5 38.045.0
278
47.2 42.851.7
All 3 tests not documented
531
58.5 55.062.0
301
52.8 48.357.2
Total
976
100
623
100
Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; DFA, direct fluorescent antibody [footnotes only]; EIA, enzyme immunoassay [footnotes only]; ELISA, enzyme-linked immunoassay [footnotes only]; FTA-ABS, fluorescent treponemal antibody absorbed [footnotes only]; MHA-TP, microhemagglutination assay for antibody to Treponema pallidum [footnotes only]; NAAT, nucleic acid amplification test [footnotes only]; RPR, rapid plasma reagin [footnotes only]; TP-PA, T. pallidum particle agglutination [footnotes only]; TPHA, T. pallidum hemagglutination assay [footnotes only]; VDRL, Venereal Disease Research Laboratory [footnotes only]. Note. Information on laboratory testing for sexually transmitted diseases was based on medical record abstraction. Numbers might not add to total because of missing data. Percentages might not sum to 100 because of rounding. Excluded are values with a coefficient of variation 0.30, "don't know" responses, and skipped (missing) responses. Values with a denominator sample size <30, values with an absolute CI width 0.30, and values with an absolute CI width between 0.05 and 0.30 and a relative CI width >130% are marked with an asterisk and should be interpreted with caution. a Sexual activity was reported in the interview component of the Medical Monitoring Project and was defined as anal or vaginal intercourse. b Numbers are unweighted. c Percentages are weighted percentages. d CIs incorporate weighted percentages e Testing for Neisseria gonorrhoeae was defined as documentation of a result from culture, gram stain, enzyme immunoassay (EIA), nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT), or nucleic acid probe. f Chlamydia trachomatis testing was defined as a result from culture, direct fluorescent antibody (DFA), EIA or enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA), NAAT, or nucleic acid probe. g Syphilis testing was defined as a result from nontreponemal syphilis tests (rapid plasma reagin [RPR], Venereal Disease Research Laboratory [VDRL]), treponemal syphilis tests (Treponema pallidum hemagglutination assay [TPHA], T.pallidum particle agglutination [TP-PA], microhemagglutination assay for antibody to T.pallidum [MHA-TP], fluorescent treponemal antibody absosrbed [FTA-ABS] tests), or dark-field microscopy.
20
Table 6. Emergency department and hospital admission during the 12
months before the interview--Medical Monitoring Project, Georgia, 2015-
2019
No.a
%b
95% CIc
Number of visits to emergency department
0
532
55.2
51.858.7
1
197
21.1
18.224.0
24
192
19.8
17.022.5
5
40
3.9
2.75.2
Number of hospital admissions
0
760
79.3
76.482.1
1
132
14.0
11.616.5
24
57
5.7
4.17.3
5
-
-
-
Total
976
100
Abbreviation: CI, confidence interval. Note. Numbers might not add to total because of missing data. Percentages might not sum to 100 because of rounding. Excluded are values with a coefficient of variation 0.30, "don't know" responses, and skipped (missing) responses. Values with a denominator sample size <30, values with an absolute CI width 0.30, and values with an absolute CI width between 0.05 and 0.30 and a relative CI width >130% are marked with an asterisk and should be interpreted with caution. a Numbers are unweighted. b Percentages are weighted percentages. c CIs incorporate weighted percentages.
21
Table 7. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) use--Medical Monitoring Project,
Georgia, 2015-2019
Ever taken ART Yes No
No.a
946 14
%b
97.8 2.2
95% CIc
96.699.1 0.93.4
Currently taking ART
Yes
895
91.5
No
69
8.5
Reasons for never taking ARTd
Health care provider never discussed taking ART with person
Yes
-
-
89.393.6 6.410.7
-
No
12
Health care provider said person should not start taking ART
Yes
9
No
-
Money or insurance problems
Yes
-
No
11
Person doesn't believe he/she needs ART
Yes
-
85.9*
60.3* -
74.9*
-
67.5100.0
31.389.4 -
49.999.9
-
No
10
67.1*
38.895.4
Person thinks ART would make him/her feel sick or harm him/her
Yes
-
No
11
78.8*
56.8100.0
Person decided not to take ART for some other reas
on
Yes
-
-
No
10
77.3*
Reasons for not currently taking ART, among those persons with a history of ART used
Health care provider never discussed restarting ART with person
Yes
-
-
No
43
78.5
55.798.9
64.392.7
Health care provider said person should not take AR T
Yes No Money or insurance problems Yes No
-
-
47
95.3
23
51.3*
28
48.7*
86.5100.0
36.166.6 33.463.9
22
Person doesn't believe he/she needs ART
Yes
-
-
-
No
42
80.5
67.993.1
Person thinks ART would make him/her feel sick or harm him/ her
Yes
12
23.9
11.036.8
No
39
76.1
63.289.0
Person decided not to take ART for some other reason
Yes
23
37.8
23.652.0
No
28
62.2
48.076.4
Total
976
100
Abbreviation: CI, confidence interval. Note. Numbers might not add to total because of missing data. Percentages might not sum to 100 because of rounding. Excluded are values with a coefficient of variation 0.30, "don't know" responses, and skipped (missing) responses. Values with a denominator sample size <30, values with an absolute CI width 0.30, and values with an absolute CI width between 0.05 and 0.30 and a relative CI width >130% are marked with an asterisk and should be interpreted with caution. a,b,c Numbers are unweighted. Percentages are weighed percentages. Cis incorporate weighed percentages. d Persons could select more than 1 response for reasons not taking ART.
23
Table 8. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence among persons taking
ART--Medical Monitoring Project, Georgia, 2015-2019
No.a
%b
95% CIc
ART adherence in the past 30 days
How many days did you miss at least 1 dose of any of your HIV medicines?
0
519
58.4
54.861.9
12 35 610
242
26.3
90
10.4
21
2.3
23.229.5 8.212.6
1.23.3
11+
22
2.6
How well did you do at taking your HIV medicines in the way you were supposed to?
Very poor
-
-
Poor
17
1.9
Fair
42
4.8
Good
120
13.5
Very good
270
29.4
Excellent
436
49.3
How often did you take your HIV medicines in the way you were supposed to?
1.43.7
0.92.9 3.26.4 11.015.9 26.232.6 45.852.9
Never
-
-
-
Rarely Sometimes Usually
-
-
21
2.2
43
5.0
1.23.3 3.36.7
Almost always Always How often were you troubled by ART side effects?
245
27.1
571
63.9
24.030.3 60.567.4
Never
606
66.8
63.370.2
Rarely About half the time Most of the time Always Reasons for last missed ART dosed
Had a problem paying for HIV medicinese
145
16.9
67
8.1
37
4.1
34
4.1
14.219.7 6.010.1
2.75.5 2.75.6
Yes
27
7.8
No
278
92.2
Had a problem getting a prescription or a refill for HIV medicinese
4.810.8 89.295.2
Yes No In the hospital or too sick to take HIV medicines
62
19.6
243
80.4
14.824.5 75.585.2
Yes No Fell asleep early or overslept
61
6.6
764
93.4
4.98.3 91.795.1
24
Yes
265
31.9
28.535.3
No
558
68.1
64.771.5
Change in your daily routine or were out of town
Yes
283
35.2
31.738.7
No
542
64.8
61.368.3
Had side effects from your HIV medicines
Yes
80
10.2
7.912.5
No
744
89.8
87.592.1
Felt depressed or overwhelmed
Yes
106
13.1
10.615.7
No
719
86.9
84.389.4
Was drinking or using drugs
Yes
49
6.0
4.27.8
No
776
94.0
92.295.8
Forgot to take HIV medicines
Yes
372
45.8
42.249.5
No
453
54.2
50.557.8
Did not feel like taking HIV medicines
Yes
73
8.4
6.310.4
No
753
91.6
89.693.7
Total
895
100
Abbreviation: CI, confidence interval. Note. Numbers might not add to total because of missing data. Percentages might not sum to 100 because of rounding. Excluded are values with a coefficient of variation 0.30, "don't know" responses, and skipped (missing) responses. Values with a denominator sample size <30, values with an absolute CI width 0.30, and values with an absolute CI width between 0.05 and 0.30 and a relative CI width >130% are marked with an asterisk and should be interpreted with caution. a Numbers are unweighted. b Percentages are weighted percentages. c CIs incorporate weighted percentages. d Persons could report more than 1 reason for missed last dose.
25
Table 9. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) prescription, ART dose adherence, durable viral suppression, and
geometric mean CD4 count by subgroups--Medical Monitoring Project, Georgia, 2015-2019
Prescription of ART
ART dose adherencea
Sustained viral
Geometric mean CD4 count
No.c Row 95% CIe No.c Row %d 95% CIe No.c Rsuopwpr%edssio9n5b% CIe No.c Row2%00d 95% CIe
Gender
%d
Male
586 81.6 78.285.1 356 57.0 52.961.2 430 60.3 56.364.4 507 90.9 88.693.3
Female
224 83.2 78.088.4 156 64.1 57.470.7 161 58.7 52.065.3 195 86.3 81.291.3
Transgenderf
16 97.2 91.7100.0
-
-
- 13 71.2* 44.697.8
13 86.0*
68.0
100.0
Sexual orientation
Lesbian or gay Heterosexual or straight Bisexual Other sexual orientation
Race/ethnicity
316 79.8 74.984.7 190 56.9 51.262.5 224 58.0 52.663.5 266 90.9 87.694.1
391 83.8 79.987.7 264 61.0 55.966.0 297 62.7 57.867.6 346 88.6 85.292.0
84 81.2 71.590.9 52 56.3 45.267.5 60 56.4 45.367.5
70 90.0 83.596.5
22 95.5 86.7100.0
9 39.4* 19.059.8 16 69.3* 50.188.4
20 85.6
70.6
100.0
American Indian/Alaska Native Asian Black/African American Hispanic/Latinog
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander White Multiple races
-
-
-
-
-
- -
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- -
-
-
-
-
-
607 82.6 79.385.8 357 55.0 50.859.1 431 57.6 53.661.6 522 88.2 85.590.9
31 66.9* 49.384.5 25 55.1* 37.872.4 22 46.1* 29.362.9
29 96.1
88.6
100.0
-
-
-
-
-
- -
-
-
-
-
-
139 82.8 75.989.7 105 70.8 63.278.4 118 72.7 65.280.2 121 93.9 89.997.8
47 91.1 79.4100.0 29 59.5* 43.675.5 30 56.1* 40.371.9
41 90.8 82.898.8
Age at time of interview (yr)
1829 3039 4049
91 76.3 66.885.8 43 168 80.9 74.287.5 84 181 83.5 77.889.3 111
44.2 33.554.9 50 42.1 32.451.8
82 90.9 85.296.7
45.1 37.452.9 106 51.0 43.558.5 139 85.7 80.291.2
58.7 51.066.4 133 60.7 53.368.0 153 89.5 84.794.3
50
387 83.9 79.888.0 281 67.6 62.972.4 315 68.8 64.073.6 342 91.4 88.594.3
26
Total
827 82.3 79.485.2 519 58.4 54.861.9 604 60.0 56.663.5 716 89.7 87.691.9
Abbreviations: CD4, CD4 T-lymphocyte count (cells/L); CI, confidence interval. Note. Numbers might not add to total because of missing data. Percentages might not sum to 100 because of
rounding. Excluded are values with a coefficient of variation 0.30, "don't know" responses, and skipped (missing) responses. Values with a denominator sample size <30, values with an absolute
confidence interval width 0.30, and values with an absolute confidence interval width of between 0.05 and 0.30 and a relative confidence interval width >130% are marked with an asterisk and
should be interpreted with caution.
a In past 30 days, 100% adherence to ART doses.
b All viral load measurements in the 12 months preceding the interview documented undetectable or <200 copies/mL.
c Numbers are unweighted.
d Percentages are weighted percentages.
e CIs incorporate weighted percentages.
f Persons were classified as transgender if sex at birth and gender reported by the person were different, or if the person chose transgender in response to the question about self-identified
gender.
g Hispanics or Latinos might be of any race. Persons are classified in only 1 race/ethnicity category.
27
Table 10. Depression and anxiety during the 2 weeks before the interview--
Medical Monitoring Project, Georgia, 2015-2019
No.a
%b
95% CIc
Depression based on DSM-IV criteriad
No depression
781
81.8
79.284.5
Other depression
92
9.1
7.211.0
Major depression
85
9.1
7.111.1
Moderate or severe depression (PHQ-8 score 10)
Yes
143
15.1
12.617.5
No
816
84.9
82.587.4
Anxietye
No anxiety
740
76.8
73.979.8
Mild anxiety
58
6.2
4.57.8
Moderate anxiety
80
8.3
6.410.1
Severe anxiety
82
8.7
6.810.7
Total
976
100
Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; DSM-IV, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition; GAD-7, Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item Scale [footnotes only]; PHQ-8, Patient Health Questionnaire. Note. Numbers might not add to total because of missing data. Percentages might not sum to 100 because of rounding. Excluded are values with a coefficient of variation 0.30, "don't know" responses, and skipped (missing) responses. Values with a denominator sample size <30, values with an absolute CI width 0.30, and values with an absolute CI width between 0.05 and 0.30 and a relative CI width >130% are marked with an asterisk and should be interpreted with caution. a Numbers are unweighted. b Percentages are weighted percentages. c CIs incorporate weighted percentages. d Responses to the items on the PHQ-8 were used to define "major depression" and "other depression," according to criteria from the DSM-IV. "Major depression" was defined as having at least 5 symptoms of depression; "other depression" was defined as having 24 symptoms of depression. e Responses to the GAD7 were used to define "mild anxiety", "moderate anxiety", and "severe anxiety," according to criteria from the DSM-IV. "Severe anxiety" was defined as having a score of 15; "moderate anxiety" was defined as having a score of 1014; and "mild anxiety" was defined as having a score of 59.
28
Table 11. Tobacco and electronic cigarette use--Medical Monitoring
Project, Georgia, 2015-2019
No.a
%b
95% CIc
Smoked 100 cigarettes (lifetime)
Yes
490
50.4
46.953.8
No
468
49.6
46.253.1
Cigarette smoking status
Never smoked
490
50.4
46.953.8
Former smoker
153
16.4
13.819.1
Current smoker
315
33.2
29.936.5
Frequency of current cigarette smoking
Never
643
66.8
63.570.1
Daily
255
26.8
23.729.8
Weekly
23
2.7
1.44.0
Monthly
-
-
-
Less than monthly
26
2.7
1.63.8
Smoked 50 cigars, cigarillos, or little filtered cigars (lifetime)
Yes
167
17.7
15.020.4
No
792
82.3
79.685.0
Cigars, cigarillos, or little filtered cigars smoking status
Never smoked
792
82.3
79.685.0
Former smoker
78
8.4
6.410.5
Current smoker
89
9.3
7.311.3
Frequency of current cigars, cigarillos, or little filtered cigars smoking
Never
870
90.7
88.792.7
Daily
20
2.3
1.23.4
Some days
34
3.6
2.34.9
Rarely
35
3.4
2.34.6
Electronic cigarette smoking status
Never used electronic cigarettes
682
70.6
67.573.8
29
Used electronic cigarettes, but not in the past 30 days
212
22.6
19.725.6
Used electronic cigarettes in the past 30 days
64
6.7
5.08.5
Total
976
100
Abbreviation: CI, confidence interval. Note. Numbers might not add to total because of missing data. Percentages might not sum to 100 because of rounding. Excluded are values with a coefficient of variation 0.30, "don't know" responses, and skipped (missing) responses. Values with a denominator sample size <30, values with an absolute CI width 0.30, and values with an absolute CI width between 0.05 and 0.30 and a relative CI width >130% are marked with an asterisk and should be interpreted with caution. a Numbers are unweighted. b Percentages are weighted percentages. c CIs incorporate weighted percentages.
30
Table 12. Alcohol use during the 12 months before the interview--
Medical Monitoring Project, Georgia, 2015-2019
No.a
%b
95% CIc
Any alcohol used
Yes
626
66.4
63.169.7
No
333
33.6
30.336.9
Frequency of alcohol use
Daily
59
6.5
4.88.3
Weekly
185
19.3
16.622.0
Monthly
117
11.8
9.614.0
Less than monthly
265
28.8
25.632.0
Never
333
33.6
30.336.9
Binge drinking past 30 dayse
Yes
146
15.9
13.318.5
No
807
84.1
81.586.7
Total
976
100
Abbreviation: CI, confidence interval. Note. Numbers might not add to total because of missing data. Percentages might not sum to 100 because of rounding. Excluded are values with a coefficient of variation 0.30, "don't know" responses, and skipped (missing) responses. Values with a denominator sample size <30, values with an absolute CI width 0.30, and values with an absolute CI width between 0.05 and 0.30 and a relative CI width >130% are marked with an asterisk and should be interpreted with caution. a Numbers are unweighted. b Percentages are weighted percentages. c CIs incorporate weighted percentages. d Persons who drank at least 1 alcoholic beverage during the 12 months before the interview. Alcoholic beverage was defined as a 12-ounce beer, 5-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5-ounce shot of liquor. e Persons who drank 5 alcoholic beverages in a single sitting (4 for women) during the 30 days before the interview.
31
Table 13. Noninjection drug use during the 12 months before the
interview--Medical Monitoring Project, Georgia, 2015-2019
No.a
%b
95% CIc
Use of any noninjection drugsd
Yes
295
30.8
27.734.0
No
663
69.2
66.072.3
Noninjection drugsd used
Marijuana
Yes
267
27.8
24.730.9
No
691
72.2
69.175.3
Crack
Yes
21
1.8
1.02.6
No
937
98.2
97.499.0
Cocaine that is smoked or snorted
Yes
50
5.2
3.76.7
No
908
94.8
93.396.3
Methamphetamine (e.g., crystal meth, tina, crank, ice)
Yes
25
2.9
1.74.1
No
933
97.1
95.998.3
Amphetamine (e.g., speed, bennies, uppers)
Yes
-
-
-
No
949
99.1
98.499.7
Club drugs (e.g., Ecstasy or X, ketamine or Special K, GHB or Liquid Ecstasy)
Yes
21
2.4
1.33.4
No
937
97.6
96.698.7
Amyl nitrite (poppers)
Yes
53
6.2
4.47.9
No
905
93.8
92.195.6
Prescription opioids (e.g., oxycodone, hydrocodone, Vicodin, Percocet)e
Yes
30
3.1
1.94.2
No
928
96.9
95.898.1
Prescription tranquilizers (e.g., Valium, Ativan, Xanax, downers, nerve pills)e
Yes
22
2.3
1.33.2
No
936
97.7
96.898.7
Total
976
100
Disclaimer: The use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by the Department of Health and Human Services or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; GHB, gamma hydroxybutyrate. Note. Numbers might not add to total because of missing data. Percentages might not sum to 100 because of rounding. Excluded are values with a coefficient of variation 0.30, "don't know" responses, and skipped (missing) responses. Values with a denominator sample size <30, values with an absolute CI width 0.30, and values with an absolute CI width between 0.05 and 0.30 and a relative CI width >130% are marked with an asterisk and should be interpreted with caution. Persons could report taking more than 1 noninjection drug.
32
a Numbers are unweighted. b Percentages are weighted percentages. c CIs incorporate weighted percentages. d Includes all drugs that were not injected (i.e., administered by any route other than injection), including legal drugs that were not used for medical purposes. e Not prescribed, or prescribed but taken more than directed.
33
Table 14. Injection drug use during the 12 months before the interview--
Medical Monitoring Project, Georgia, 2015-2019
No.a
%b
95% CIc
Use of any injection drugs
Yes
14
1.9
0.93.0
No
944
98.1
97.099.1
Injection drugs used
Cocaine
Yes
-
-
-
No
955
99.7
99.3100.0
Heroin
Yes
-
-
-
No
956
99.8
99.4100.0
Heroin and cocaine (speedball)
No
958
100*
-
Methamphetamine (e.g., crystal meth, tina, crank, ice)
Yes
-
-
-
No
946
98.3
97.299.3
Amphetamine (e.g., speed, bennies, uppers)
Yes
-
-
-
No
955
99.7
99.3100.0
Prescription opioids (e.g., oxycontin, oxycodone, hydrocodone)
No
958
100*
-
Total
976
100
Disclaimer: The use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by the Department of Health and Human Services or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Abbreviation: CI, confidence interval. Note. Numbers might not add to total because of missing data. Percentages might not sum to 100 because of rounding. Excluded are values with a coefficient of variation 0.30, "don't know" responses, and skipped (missing) responses. Values with a denominator sample size <30, values with an absolute CI width 0.30, and values with an absolute CI width between 0.05 and 0.30 and a relative CI width >130% are marked with an asterisk and should be interpreted with caution. Persons could report taking more than 1 injection drug. a Numbers are unweighted. b Percentages are weighted percentages. c CIs incorporate weighted percentages.
34
Table 15. Gynecological care and reproductive health among women--
Medical Monitoring Project, Georgia, 2015-2019
No.a
%b
95% CIc
Papanicolaou (Pap) test, past 3 yearsd
Yes
95
90.4
85.095.8
No
12
9.6
4.215.0
Pregnant since HIV diagnosis
Yes
65
26.8
20.732.9
No
192
73.2
67.179.3
Total
265
100
Abbreviation: CI, confidence interval. Note. Measures are self-reported. Numbers might not add to total because of missing data. Percentages might not sum to 100 because of rounding. Excluded are values with a coefficient of variation 0.30, "don't know" responses, and skipped (missing) responses. Values with a denominator sample size <30, values with an absolute CI width 0.30, and values with an absolute CI width between 0.05 and 0.30 and a relative CI width >130% are marked with an asterisk and should be interpreted with caution. a Numbers are unweighted. b Percentages are weighted percentages. c CIs incorporate weighted percentages. d Or since HIV diagnosis for women with a diagnosis within the past 3 years. Data for this variable is available starting from the 2018 cycle. The results shown do not include data from 2015-2017.
35
Table 16. Sexual behavior during the 12 months before the interview among cisgender men and women--Medical Monitoring Project, Georgia, 2015-2019
Men
Women
Behavior
No.a
%b
95% CIc No.a %b 95% CIc
Engaged in anal sex with men
Receptive
Yes
267 40.0 35.944.1
-
-
-
No
409 60.0 55.964.1 249 96.6 94.299.0
Insertive
Yes
263 38.9 34.943.0
-
-
-
No
411 61.1 57.065.1
-
-
-
Engaged in anal sex with women
Yes
-
-
-
-
-
-
No
680 98.4 97.499.5
-
-
-
Engaged in vaginal sex
Yes
136 19.9 16.723.2 143 56.7 50.163.2
No
542 80.1 76.883.3 116 43.3 36.849.9
Engaged in vaginal or anal sex
Yes
468 69.3 65.673.1 143 56.7 50.163.2
No
209 30.7 26.934.4 116 43.3 36.849.9
Number of vaginal or anal sex partners among
MSMd
Mean
4
-
Median
2
-
Range
170
-
MSWe
Mean
2
-
Median
1
-
Range
125
-
WSMf
Mean
-
1
Median
-
1
Range
-
16
Total
693
100
265 100
Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; MSM, men who had sex with men; MSW, men who had sex only with women; WSM, women who had sex with men. Note. Numbers might not add to total because of missing data. Percentages might not sum to 100 because of rounding. Excluded are values with a coefficient of variation 0.30, "don't know" responses, and skipped (missing) responses. Values with a denominator sample size <30, values with an absolute CI width 0.30, and values with an absolute CI width between 0.05 and 0.30 and a relative CI width >130% are marked with an asterisk and should be interpreted with caution. a Numbers are unweighted.
36
b Percentages are weighted percentages. c CIs incorporate weighted percentages. d Among men who had anal sex with men in the 12 months before the interview. e Among men who had vaginal or anal sex only with women in the 12 months before the interview. f Among women who had vaginal or anal sex with men in the 12 months before the interview.
37
Table 17. Sexual behavior during the 12 months before the interview among men who had sex with men (MSM), men who had sex only with women (MSW), and women who had sex with men (WSM)--Medical Monitoring Project, Georgia, 2015-2019
MSM
MSW
WSM
Behavior Engaged in any high-risk sexd
No. %b 95% CIc No.a %b 95% CIc No. %b
a
a
95% CIc
Yes
38 7.6 5.110.1 - -
- 19 8.3 4.412.3
No
434 92.4 89.994.9 192 94.6 90.798.6 235 91.7 87.795.6
Engaged in any high-risk sex among sexually active personsd
Yes
38 10.4 7.013.8 - -
- 19 14.6 7.921.2
No
314 89.6 86.293.0 104 90.9 84.397.5 124 85.4 78.892.1
Percentages of sexually-active persons who used a prevention strategy with at least 1 partner
Sex while sustainably virally suppressede
Yes
207 57.9 52.263.6 69 58.8 48.868.7 84 55.0 45.964.2
No
147 42.1 36.447.8 44 41.2 31.351.2 59 45.0 35.854.1
Condom-protected sexf
Yes
241 70.3 65.275.5 81 73.4 64.982.0 82 56.2 47.065.3
No
111 29.7 24.534.8 31 26.6 18.035.1 60 43.8 34.753.0
Condomless sex with a partner on PrEPg
Yes
35 9.1 6.012.2 - -
- -
-
-
No
317 90.9 87.894.0 112 99.4
98.2 140 97.8 95.3100.0
100.0
Sex with an HIV positive partnerh
Yes
245 68.8 63.574.2 35 27.9 19.536.4 41 28.4 20.136.7
No
109 31.2 25.836.5 78 72.1 63.680.5 102 71.6 63.379.9
Total
478 100
202 100
256 100
Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; PrEP, preexposure prophylaxis.
Note. Numbers might not add to total because of missing data. Percentages might not sum to 100 because of rounding. Persons who reported no anal, vaginal or oral sex in the 12 months before the interview were categorized according to self-reported sexual orientation. This table does not include information on women who had sex with women only, women who had sex with transgender persons only, or men who had sex with transgender persons only. Excluded are values with a coefficient of variation 0.30, "don't know" responses, and skipped (missing) responses. Values with a denominator sample size <30, values with an absolute CI width 0.30, and values with an absolute CI width between 0.05 and 0.30 and a relative CI width >130% are marked with an asterisk and should be interpreted with caution.
38
a Numbers are unweighted. b Percentages are weighted percentages. c CIs incorporate weighted percentages. d Vaginal or anal sex with at least 1 HIV-negative or unknown status partner while not sustainably virally suppressed, a condom was not used, and the partner was not on PrEP. PrEP use was only measured among the 5 most recent partners. e HIV viral load <200 copies/mL documented in the medical record at every measure in the past 12 months before the interview. f Condoms were consistently used with at least 1 vaginal or anal sex partner. g At least 1 HIV-negative condomless-sex partner was on PrEP. PrEP use was only measured among the 5 most recent partners and was reported by the HIVpositive partner. h Sex with at least 1 HIV-positive partner.
39
Table 18. Met and unmet needs for ancillary services during the 12
months before the interview--Medical Monitoring Project, Georgia, 2015-
2019
Persons who received services
No.a
%b
95% CIc
Persons who needed but did
not receive services by time of
interview
No.a %b
95% CIc
Dental care
Yes
475 49.5 46.053.0
305 31.2
28.134.4
No HIV case management services Yes No Medicine through ADAP
485 50.5 47.054.0
457 45.6 42.149.0 501 54.4 51.057.9
655 68.8
96 10.2 862 89.8
65.671.9
8.112.4 87.691.9
Yes
434 41.6 38.245.0
33 3.9
2.45.4
No
517 58.4 55.061.8
918 96.1
94.697.6
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
Yes
379 38.0 34.641.3
149 15.5
13.018.0
No
581 62.0 58.765.4
811 84.5
82.087.0
Professional help remembering to take HIV medicines on time or correctly (adherence support services)
Yes
346 33.9 30.737.2
- -
-
No
610 66.1 62.869.3
950 99.5
99.099.9
Mental health services
Yes No Meal or food servicesd
252 26.0 22.929.0 707 74.0 71.077.1
98 9.9 861 90.1
7.911.9 88.192.1
Yes No Transportation assistance
158 15.1 12.817.5 802 84.9 82.587.2
109 11.4 851 88.6
9.213.6 86.490.8
Yes No HIV peer group support
173 16.9 14.319.5 786 83.1 80.585.7
104 10.6 855 89.4
8.412.7 87.391.6
Yes No Patient navigation services
107 10.0 8.011.9 849 90.0 88.192.0
72 6.9 884 93.1
5.38.6 91.494.7
Yes No Shelter or housing services
107 9.5 7.711.3 849 90.5 88.792.3
45 4.6 911 95.4
3.16.0 94.096.9
Yes
83
7.9 6.19.7
137 13.1
10.915.3
No
876 92.1 90.393.9
822 86.9
84.789.1
40
Drug or alcohol counseling or treatment
Yes
46 4.7 3.26.2
23 2.4
1.43.4
No
913 95.3 93.896.8
936 97.6
96.698.6
Domestic violence services
Yes
-
-
-
- -
-
No
953 99.0 98.199.9
956 99.7
99.4100.0
Total
976 100
976 100
Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; ADAP, AIDS Drug Assistance Program. Note. Persons could report receiving or needing more than 1 service. Numbers might not add to total because of missing data. Percentages might not sum to 100 because of rounding. Excluded are values with a coefficient of variation 0.30, "don't know" responses, and skipped (missing) responses. Values with an absolute confidence interval width 0.30 and values with an absolute confidence interval width of between 0.05 and 0.30 and a relative confidence interval width >130% are marked with an asterisk and should be interpreted with caution. a Numbers are unweighted. b Percentages are weighted percentages. c CIs incorporate weighted percentages. d Includes services such as soup kitchens, food pantries, food banks, church dinners, or food delivery services.
41
Table 19. Intimate partner violence and sexual violence--Medical
Monitoring Project, Georgia, 2015-2019
No.a
%b
95% CIc
Was ever slapped, punched, shoved, kicked, choked or otherwise physically hurt by a romantic or sexual partner
Yes
241
25.1
22.028.1
No
713
74.9
71.978.0
Was slapped, punched, shoved, kicked, choked or otherwise physically hurt by a romantic or sexual partner, past 12 months
Yes
37
3.8
2.55.2
No
916
96.2
94.897.5
Was ever threatened with harm or physically forced to have unwanted vaginal, anal, or oral sex
Yes
147
16.0
13.418.7
No
809
84.0
81.386.6
Was threatened with harm or physically forced to have unwanted vaginal, anal, or oral sex, past 12 months
Yes
-
-
-
No
948
99.3
98.899.9
Total
976
100
Abbreviation: CI, confidence interval. Note. Numbers might not add to total because of missing data. Percentages might not sum to 100 because of rounding. Excluded are values with a coefficient of variation 0.30, "don't know" responses, and skipped (missing) responses. Values with a denominator sample size <30, values with an absolute CI width 0.30, and values with an absolute CI width between 0.05 and 0.30 and a relative CI width >130% are marked with an asterisk and should be interpreted with caution. a Numbers are unweighted. b Percentages are weighted percentages. c CIs incorporate weighted percentages.
42
Table 20. Prevention services received during the 12 months before the
interview--Medical Monitoring Project, Georgia, 2015-2019
No.a
%b
95% CIc
One-on-one HIV/STD risk-reduction conversation with physician, nurse, or other health care worker
Yes
543 56.5 53.159.9
No
418 43.5 40.146.9
One-on-one HIV/STD risk-reduction conversation with outreach worker, counselor, or prevention program worker
Yes
306 31.1 27.934.3
No
655 68.9 65.772.1
Attended an organized HIV/STD risk-reduction session involving a small group of people
Yes
116 11.4 9.313.5
No
846 88.6 86.590.7
Received free condoms
Yes
478 50.0 46.553.4
No
485 50.0 46.653.5
Total
976
100
Abbreviation: CI, confidence interval. Note. Persons could report receiving more than 1 prevention service. Numbers might not add to total because of missing data. Percentages might not sum to 100 because of rounding. Excluded are values with a coefficient of variation 0.30, "don't know" responses, and skipped (missing) responses. Values with a denominator sample size <30, values with an absolute CI width 0.30, and values with an absolute CI width between 0.05 and 0.30 and a relative CI width >130% are marked with an asterisk and should be interpreted with caution. a Numbers are unweighted. b Percentages are weighted percentages. c CIs incorporate weighted percentages.
43
Table 21. National indicators: homelessness, HIV stigma, and high-risk sex--Medical Monitoring
Project, Georgia, 2015-2019
Gender Male Female Transgenderg Sexual orientation Lesbian or gay Heterosexual or straight Bisexual Other sexual orientation
Homeless in the 12 months preceding the interview among persons receiving HIV care in the No.dpasRto1w2 m%eont9h5sa% CIf
61
8.3 6.210.4
17
6.4 3.29.5
-
-
-
Engaged in any sex without
HIV stigmab
Engaged in any high- using an HIV prevention
risk sexc
strategy in the 12 months
before interviewd
No.d
Row Interquartil No. Row media e range d %e
95% CIf
No.d
Row %e
95% CIf
n score 670 33.6 31.036.2 265 26.9 24.329.5
46 6.9
4.89.0
251 43.9 40.147.7 104 36.8 31.242.5 19 8.1 4.312.0
17 54.0* 38.070.0 9 62.2* 36.188.3
-
-
-
26
6.0 3.78.4 374 32.3 29.235.5 155 25.4 21.529.2
33
7.7 5.010.4 441 40.2 37.143.2 171 35.1 30.439.8
17 15.3 8.022.6 96 34.1 26.741.5 38 25.4 20.230.6
-
-
- 23 51.4* 35.667.2 11 45.8* 20.571.1
32 8.2 5.211.1
26 6.7 3.99.4
-
-
-
-
-
-
Race/ethnicity American Indian/Alaska Native
-
-
-
2 62.5 62.565.9 -
-
-
-
-
-
Asian Black/African American Hispanic/Latinoh Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander
-
-
-
1 55.0 55.055.0 -
-
-
-
-
-
65
9.2 7.011.5 686 36.7 34.039.3 284 30.1 26.433.8
41 6.1 4.18.1
-
-
- 42 36.7* 19.354.0 16 29.6* 0.062.7
-
-
-
-
-
-
1 37.5 37.537.5 -
-
-
-
-
-
White
-
-
- 159 36.4 32.240.6 57 25.8 20.631.1
-
-
-
Multiple races
-
-
- 48 47.9* 32.263.6 21 45.0* 22.267.7
-
-
-
Age at time of interview (yr)
1829 3039 4049
16 14.2 7.420.9 110 39.3 34.743.9 51 37.4 30.744.1
27 12.4 7.816.9 191 39.2 35.842.5 82 33.1 25.840.3
-
-
- 205 36.1 30.941.3 78 27.2 20.533.9
19 16.0
22 11.0
-
-
8.923.0 6.315.7
-
44
50
26
6.1 3.78.5 433 34.7 31.038.3 167 26.8 23.430.1
15 3.8 1.75.9
Total
82
8.2 6.410.0 939 37.2 34.939.5 378 29.5 26.532.5
66 7.2 5.39.0
Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; PrEP, preexposure prophylaxis [footnotes only]. Note. Numbers might not add to total because of missing data.
Excluded are estimates with a coefficient of variation 0.30, estimates based on a denominator sample size <30, "don't know" responses, and skipped (missing) responses. Estimates with an absolute CI width 30, estimates with an absolute CI width between 5 and 30 and a relative CI width >130%, and estimates of 0% or 100% are marked with an asterisk (*) and should be interpreted with caution.
a Living on the street, in a shelter, in a single-roomoccupancy hotel, or in a car. b Ten-item scale ranging from 0 (no stigma) to 100 (high stigma) that measures 4 dimensions of HIV stigma: personalized stigma since HIV diagnosis, current disclosure concerns,
current negative self-image, and current perceived public attitudes about people living with HIV. c Ten-item scale ranging from 0 (no stigma) to 100 (high stigma) that measures 4 dimensions of HIV stigma during the past 12 months: personalized stigma since HIV diagnosis, current
disclosure concerns, current negative self-image, and current perceived public attitudes about people living with HIV. d Vaginal or anal sex with at least 1 partner of HIV-negative or unknown status while not having sustained viral load suppression, a condom was not used, and the partner was not on PrEP. PrEP use was only measured among the 5 most recent partners.
e Numbers are unweighted. f Percentages are weighted percentages.
g CIs incorporate weighted percentages. h Persons were classified as transgender if sex at birth and gender reported by the person were different, or if the person chose "transgender" in response to the question about self-
identified gender.
45
Appendix: Methods
and Definitions
METHODS
The Medical Monitoring Project (MMP) uses a stratified, 2-stage sampling design. States were sampled first, with probability proportional to size (PPS). All 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico (defined as primary sampling units [PSUs]) were eligible for selection. From these 52 PSUs, 20 were selected by using PPS sampling based on AIDS prevalence at the end of 2002. According to the PPS sampling method, states with a higher AIDS prevalence had a higher probability of selection, and those with a lower AIDS prevalence had a lower probability of selection [1]. Six municipal jurisdictions receive separate funding for HIV surveillance (Chicago, Illinois; Houston, Texas; Los Angeles County, California; New York City, New York; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and San Francisco, California); these areas were included with the state for first-stage sampling and constituted a city-state unit. If a state included a city with independent HIV surveillance authority (e.g., Texas, which includes Houston), selection of the state included selection of the city (i.e., city-state units were selected together). In 2004, 19 states (including the 6 separately funded areas within those states) and Puerto Rico were selected from the 52 PSUs, resulting in 26 MMP project areas. Because of funding constraints for the 2009 data collection cycle, 3 project areas (Maryland, Massachusetts, and South Carolina) were randomly selected to discontinue participation in MMP, and the total number of MMP areas was reduced to 23. An analysis carried out in 2014 found that the original measure of size with which states were originally sampled (i.e., AIDS prevalence in 2002) was still a reasonable proxy for the
46
distribution of HIV prevalence in 2010 (the most recent year for which prevalence estimates were available at the time). Consequently, we concluded that the selected sample of states was still sufficiently representative of the population of persons with diagnosed HIV and that selecting a new sample for the 2015 and subsequent data collection cycles was unwarranted. In addition, the change in the sampling frame and the availability of national totals from the National HIV Surveillance System (NHSS) presented new options for calibrating weights, further lessening the need for any adjustments to the sample of states. At the second stage, persons with a reported diagnosis in NHSS were sampled after the selection of the states. The sampling frame was the national case surveillance data set containing records submitted to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as of December 31, the year prior to the data collection cycle. This national data set was divided into 24 separate frame files according to the most recently reported residence information, with 1 frame for each of the 23 project areas and 1 residual file for all nonMMP project areas. Individuals were eligible for sampling if their vital status was alive, they were aged 18 years, and they were residents of the United States. Records in the NHSS are deidentified (under provisions of CDC's Assurance of Confidentiality) and include only limited information about where the person currently resides, lacking the more exact address information contained in local case surveillance systems. CDC staff drew simple random samples from the 23 project area frame files, and project area staff then linked their samples to local case surveillance systems and extracted contact information for use in locating sampled persons, whom they then attempted to recruit.
Nonresponse Analysis and Weighting Data used to generate national estimates were weighted for the probability of selection based upon known probabilities of selection of states and individuals within states. In addition, data were weighted to adjust for nonresponse by using predictors of response, including sex, race/ethnicity, age of most recent contact information, transmission category, and the person's receipt of care as documented by lab-oratory test results in NHSS records. In 2016, frame data extracted from NHSS provided information for all sampled persons in MMP, regardless of response to the interview or from the medical record abstraction. These data provided descriptive information about all sampled persons for assessing how person characteristics were associated with nonresponse and were the source of data used for nonresponse analysis and weighting.
Eligibility and Response Classifications Persons were eligible for participation if, as of the sampling date, they had received a diagnosis of HIV, were aged 18 years, alive, and a resident of an MMP project area. Sampled persons were presumed to be eligible based on their information in NHSS unless data from another source contradicted this status. Persons were classified into 4 categories: (1) eligible respondents, (2) contacted nonrespondents, (3) nonrespondents who were not contacted, and (4) ineligible persons. These categories were used in calculating final response rates and contact rates in accordance with standard formulas [2].
Weighting Overview For the 2015-2019 MMP cycles, sets of weights at the national level of analysis were produced independently of the local levels of analysis. Base weights were applied, and
47
statistical adjustments were then made for multiplicity and nonresponse at the person level. These nonresponse adjustments distributed the base weights of nonresponding persons to responding persons, so that the sum of the adjusted weights equaled the sum of the base weights. After adjusting for nonresponse, the weights were then poststratified to population totals from the NHSS frame. Extreme weights were trimmed and the weights were adjusted to the same population totals. For the weighting process, an updated sampling frame was created by returning to the source of surveillance records approximately a year later, during which time additional information may have become available for persons reported to NHSS and additional diagnoses may have been reported. This updated frame added to the frame all records that would have been eligible if their information had met the inclusion criteria; primarily, these were diagnoses that occurred during the year prior to the MMP sampling date (for the 2019 cycle, December 31, 2018), but had not yet been reported on the date the initial sample was drawn. Additionally, some persons were found to have had multiple records pertaining to them at the time of sampling, which were later identified as duplicate records. In some cases, updated information indicated that a person originally judged eligible and included on the original frame was ineligible.
Adjustments for unequal selection probabilities The base weight was the inverse probability of selection for the person, which varied by project area. A person who was sampled from one jurisdiction, but lived in another area at the time of sampling, retained the original base weight. Prior to weighting, such crossjurisdictional records were grouped with their
project area of residence at the time of sampling. This moving of records had no effect on the national weights, but did affect the project area weight totals, increasing some slightly while decreasing others.
Adjustments for multiplicity A multiplicity factor was applied to the person weight for persons with records found to be present more than once when the original frame was compared to the updated frame. This factor, which accounts for some persons' multiple opportunities for being sampled, was capped at 2.0 and was applicable for only 84 persons.
Adjustments for nonresponse A nonresponse adjustment factor was then applied to the base weight. This factor makes use of information available for every sampled case from the NHSS frame data: personal demographics, HIV exposure category, laboratory data, and diagnosis data. Definitions of weighting classes were based on variables that were determined in bivariate analyses to be significantly related to response at the national or project area level. For the national adjustment factor, weighting classes were based on variables related to response: sex at birth, age of most recent contact information, and the person's frequency of receipt of care (as indicated by NHSS records). For local project area data, the factors used for this adjustment varied, depending on the results of bivariate analyses. Within weighting classes, the adjustment for nonresponse was the ratio of the sum of the multiplicity-adjusted base weights for eligible sampled cases to the sum of these weights for eligible respondents.
48
Poststratification The updated sampling frame provided information on the size and characteristics of the population with diagnosed HIV, which was used for poststratification to known distributions. A count of records on this updated frame provided an updated total population size estimate. Poststratifying to this total forced the sample-based estimate of population size to conform and corrected for late reports. This adjustment was performed within classes defined by key demographics (age, race/ethnicity, and gender), so that the weight sum was preserved in each class.
Trimming After poststratification, the need for trimming the adjusted weights, so as not to inflate variance, was assessed. Where the design effect due to weighting (measured as 1 + CV2, where CV is the coefficient of variation of the weights) exceeded 1.75, we capped the weights at the median weight plus 4 times the interquartile range of the weights, then redistributed the excess to preserve the weight total. This was implemented in 4 project areas, but was not needed for national weights. The effect of other weighting adjustments, however, reduced weight totals through the exclusion of sampled persons found to be ineligible, while approximately maintaining the proportional distributions of the factors used in the poststratification.
Design variables and variance estimation Nationally, design variables indicating strata and cluster membership for each participating person accounted for the sample design. Many states were sampled with certainty, because of their higher AIDS prevalence, and each of these was defined as its own stratum. Elsewhere, strata were created by grouping 2 to 3 states (PSUs in the stratified PPS design) that had similar selection probabilities.
Multiple project areas within certainty states were effectively substrata, and each project area remained its own stratum. For certainty PSUs, the participant was the cluster. For the strata composed of noncertainty states, the state was the cluster. For local estimates, variance estimation was conditional on the initial sampling of states as PSUs, meaning that this stage of sampling was ignored. Participants were treated as having come from a simple random sample with replacement, although the various adjustment factors induced unequal weights.
DEFINITIONS
Sociodemographic Characteristics Gender: Categories were male, female, and trans-gender. Participants were classified as transgender if reported sex at birth and current gender as reported by the participant were not the same or if the participant answered "transgender" to the inter-view question regarding self-identified gender.
Health insurance, including coverage for antiretroviral therapy (ART) medications: Participants were asked whether they had health insurance or coverage for ART medications during the 12 months before the interview. Responses to these questions were combined and categorized as private health insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, Tricare/ CHAMPUS and Veterans Administration coverage, insurance classified as other public health insurance, and unknown insurance. Participants could select more than 1 response for health insurance, including coverage for ART medications.
Federal poverty guidelines: Participants were asked about their combined monthly or yearly household income (in US$) from all
49
sources during the 12 months before the interview. The number of persons meeting the current federal poverty threshold was determined by using the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services poverty guidelines that corresponded to the calendar year for which income was asked. These guidelines are issued yearly for the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C., and are an indicator used for determining eligibility for many federal and state programs. The 2015 guidelines [3] were used for participants interviewed in 2016, and the 2018 guidelines [4] were used for persons interviewed in 2019. Because the poverty guidelines are not defined for the territory of Puerto Rico, the guidelines for the contiguous states and Washington, D.C., were used for this jurisdiction. Participants were asked to specify the range of their income, and household income was assumed to be the midpoint of the income range.
Clinical Characteristics CDC stage of disease classification for HIV infection: Defined according to CDC's 2014 revised surveillance case definition for HIV infection [5]. Information from NHSS was used to determine the most advanced HIV disease stage ever reached by participants.
Use of Health Care Services Outpatient HIV medical care: Defined as documentation of any of the following: encounter with an HIV care provider, viral load test result, CD4 test result, HIV resistance test or tropism assay, ART prescription, PCP prophylaxis, or MAC prophylaxis. All were measured through documentation in the person's medical record; an encounter with an HIV care provider was also measured based on interview self-report. Persons were considered to be retained in care if they had 2
elements of outpatient HIV care at least 90 days apart in each 12-month period reviewed.
ART prescription: Defined as a prescription in the medical record, during the 12 months before the interview, of any of the following medications: abacavir, amprenavir, atazanavir, cobicistat, darunavir, delavirdine, didanosine, dolutegravir, efavirenz, elvitagravir, emtricitabine, enfuvirtide, etravirine, fosamprenavir, indinavir, lamivudine, lopinavir/ritonavir, maraviroc, nelfinavir, nevirapine, raltegravir, rilpivirine, ritonavir, saquinavir, stavudine, tenofovir alafenamide, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, tipranavir, or zidovudine. Persons with no medical record abstraction were considered to have no documentation of ART prescription.
Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) prophylaxis: Defined as documentation in the medical record that prophylaxis for PCP was prescribed among persons with a CD4 count of <200 cells/L in the 12 months before the interview [6]. Persons prescribed regimens typically given as PCP prophylaxis (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, dapsone with or without pyrimethamine and leucovorin, aerosolized pentamidine, and atovaquone) were not presumptively categorized as having received PCP prophylaxis unless this was specifically stated in the medical record or no length of time was specified for the course of treatment.
Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) prophylaxis: Defined as documentation in the medical record that prophylaxis for MAC disease was prescribed among persons with a CD4 count of <50 cells/L in the 12 months before the interview [6]. Persons prescribed regimens typically given as MAC prophylaxis (azithromycin with or without ethambutol
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and/or rifabutin, clarithromycin with or without ethambutol and/or rifabutin, and rifabutin with or without azithromycin or azithromycin along with ethambutol) were not presumptively categorized as having received MAC prophylaxis unless this was specifically stated in the medical record or no length of time was specified for the course of treatment.
Influenza vaccination: Participants were asked whether they had received seasonal influenza vaccine during the 12 months before the interview.
Neisseria gonorrhoeae testing: Defined as documentation in the medical record, during the 12 months before the interview, of a result from culture, Gram stain, enzyme immunoassay (EIA), nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT), or nucleic acid probe.
Chlamydia trachomatis testing: Defined as documentation in the medical record, during the 12 months before the interview, of a result from culture direct fluorescent antibody (DFA), EIA or enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA), NAAT, or nucleic acid probe.
Syphilis testing: Defined as documentation in the medical record, during the 12 months before the interview, of a result from nontreponemal serologic tests (rapid plasma reagin [RPR], Venereal Disease Research Laboratory [VDRL]), treponemal serologic tests (Treponema pallidum hemagglutination assay [TPHA], T. pallidum particle agglutination [TPPA], microhemagglutination assay for antibodies to T. pallidum [MHA-TP], Chemiluminescence Immunoassay [CIA], fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption
[FTA-ABS] tests), polymerase chain reactions (PCR), or dark-field microscopy.
Self-reported ART Medication Use and Adherence ART adherence: Participants were asked about their adherence to ART in the 30 days before the interview using questions from a 3item scale developed by Wilson and colleagues [7]. Participants were asked about how many days they missed at least 1 dose of their HIV medicines, how often they took their HIV medicines in the way they were supposed to, and how good a job they did at taking their HIV medicines in the way they were supposed to during the 30 days before the interview.
Depression and Substance Use Depression: Participants were asked questions from the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8), an 8-item scale used to measure frequency of depressed mood in the preceding 2 weeks [8]. The PHQ-8 has the following question: "Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by any of the following problems?" The respondent is then asked about the following problems: (1) little interest or pleasure in doing things (anhedonia); (2) feeling down, depressed, or hopeless; (3) trouble falling/staying asleep, or sleeping too much; (4) feeling tired or having little energy; (5) poor appetite or overeating; (6) feeling bad about yourself or that you are a failure or have let yourself or your family down; (7) trouble concentrating on things, such as reading the newspaper or watching television; and (8) moving or speaking so slowly that other people could have noticed, or being fidgety or restless or moving around a lot more than usual. Response categories were "not at all," "several days," "more than half the days," and "nearly every day," with
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points (03) assigned to each response category, respectively. The PHQ-8 responses were scored by using 2 methods. Method 1: an algorithm involving criteria from the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV-TR) [9], for diagnosing major depression was used to classify adults with diagnosed HIV as having major depression, other depression, or no depression. To meet the criteria for major depression, a participant must have experienced 5 or more symptoms at least "more than half the days," and one of the symptoms must be anhedonia or feelings of hopelessness. For other depression, a participant must have experienced 2 to 4 symptoms at least "more than half the days," and one of the symptoms must be anhedonia or feelings of hopelessness. Method 2: scores for each response category were summed to produce a total score between 0 and 24 points. Current depression of moderate or severe intensity was defined as a total score of 10.
Anxiety: Participants were asked questions from the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), a 7-item scale used to screen for and measure the severity of generalized anxiety disorder [10]. The GAD-7 has the following question: "Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by any of the following problems?" The respondent is then asked about the following problems: (1) feeling nervous, anxious, or on edge; (2) not being able to stop or control worrying; (3) worrying too much about different things; (4) trouble relaxing; (5) being so restless that it is hard to sit still; (6) becoming easily annoyed or irritable; and (7) feeling afraid as if something awful might happen. Responses were scored according to criteria from the DSM-IV-TR [9]. Response categories were "not
at all," "several days," "more than half the days," and "nearly every day," with points (0 3) assigned to each response category, respectively. Scores for each response category were summed to produce a total score between 0 and 21 points. "Severe anxiety" was defined as having a score of 15; "moderate anxiety" was defined as having a score of 1014; and "mild anxiety" was defined as having a score of 59.
Alcohol use: Participants were asked about alcohol use during the 30 days and the 12 months before the interview. A drink was defined as 12 ounces of beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine, or a 1.5- ounce shot of liquor.
Binge drinking: Defined as 5 drinks in a single sitting for men and 4 drinks in a single sitting for women in the past 30 days.
Sexual Behavior Prevention modalities: Reported behaviors that decrease the likelihood of HIV transmission to a sexual partner, including
o Sex while sustainably virally suppressed: Vaginal or anal sex and the person's HIV viral load was documented in the medical record as <200 copies/mL at every measure in the past 12 months before the interview.
o Condom-protected sex: Condoms were consistently used with at least 1 vaginal or anal sex partner.
o Condomless sex with a partner on preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP): At least 1 HIV-negative
condomless-sex partner was on PrEP. PrEP use was only measured among the 5 most recent partners and was reported by the HIV-positive partner. o Sex with an HIV-positive partner: Vaginal or anal sex with at least 1 HIV-positive partner.
High-risk sex: Vaginal or anal sex with at least 1 HIV-negative or unknown status partner while not sustainably virally suppressed, when a condom was not used, and the partner was not known to be taking PrEP.
Met and Unmet Needs for Ancillary Services Met need: Defined as an ancillary service (e.g., HIV case management service, dental care, mental health service) received during the 12 months before the interview.
Unmet need: Defined as an ancillary service that the participant reported as needed, but not received, during the 12 months before the interview.
Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention National Indicators Measures in this section are used by CDC's Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention for national monitoring and evaluation purposes.
Homelessness among persons receiving HIV care: Defined as living on the street, in a shelter, in a single-roomoccupancy hotel, or in a car at any time during the 12 months before the interview among person who received any outpatient HIV medical care in the 12 months before the interview.
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HIV stigma: Defined as the median score on a 10-item scale ranging from 0 (no stigma) to 100 (high stigma) that measures 4 dimensions of HIV stigma: personalized stigma, disclosure concerns, negative self-image, and perceived public attitudes about people with HIV [11].
High-risk sex: See "Sexual Behavior" section.
ETHICS STATEMENT In accordance with guidelines for defining public health research [12], CDC determined MMP was public health surveillance used for disease control, program, or policy purposes. Local institutional review board approval was obtained at participating states and territories when required. Informed consent was obtained from all interviewed participants.
REFERENCES
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2. The American Association for Public Opinion Research. Standard Definitions: Final dispositions of case codes and outcome rates for surveys. 9th ed. https://www.aapor.org/StandardsEthics/Standard-Definitions-(1).aspx. Revised 2016. Accessed January 11, 2019.
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6. Panel on Antiretroviral Guidelines for Adults and Adolescents. Guidelines for the use of antiretroviral agents in adults and adolescents living with HIV. https://go.usa.gov/vdGA. Updated October 25, 2018. Accessed January 11, 2019.
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8. Kroenke K, Strine TW, Spitzer RL, et al. The PHQ-8 as a measure of current depression in the general population. J Affect Disord 2009;114(13):163173. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2008.06.026.
9. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Sta-tistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Associa-tion; 2000.
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10. Spitzer RL, Kroenke K, Williams JB, Lwe B. A brief measure for assessing generalized anxiety disorder: the GAD-7. Arch Intern Med 2006;166(10):10921097.
11. Wright K, Naar-King S, Lam P, Templin T, Frey M. Stigma scale revised: reliability and validity of a brief measure of stigma for HIV+
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12. CDC. Distinguishing public health research and public health nonresearch. https://go.usa.gov/vdwz. Published July 2010. Accessed January 11, 2019.
HIV/AIDS RESOURCES
Georgia Department of Public Health https://dph.georgia.gov/health-topics/office-hivaids
Medical Monitoring Project https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/statistics/systems/mmp/index.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/default.html
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