eHIV Review

Geographic Divides: Exploring Health Disparities in HIV Care Faced by Rural Communities and Presenting Strategies to Overcome Them

In this issue:

In this issue of eHIV Review, Jenn Sobolik, MSN, CNP, FNP-C, AACRN, AAHIVS, HIV Nurse Practitioner at Complete Health in Rapid City, South Dakota, discusses the health disparities across the HIV care continuum faced by people living in nonurban areas and presents evidence-based strategies to address these disparities and expand access to HIV care in rural communities. These strategies include integrating HIV services into existing community programs, educating rural providers to reduce stigma and increase comfort discussing sexual risk reduction and HIV care, and expanding access to telemedicine for HIV care. Clinicians need greater awareness of the barriers faced by rural communities when accessing HIV care and should gain an understanding of the strategies to overcome these barriers to best serve this patient population.

Learning objective:

Assessing drivers of disparities in the HIV care continuum for residents of rural areas of the United States and strategies to overcome them.