Dr. Evelio Velis, associate professor of the Master of Science in Health Services Administration program, is conducting a study in HIV/AIDS epidemic in Miami-Dade County (MDC). He selected two, three-year periods for comparison: 1993-95 and 2007-09. The data was obtained from the State of Florida Department of Health, Bureau of HIV/AIDS (HSDHIV).
Preliminary results show that in 2007-09, there has been a significant increase in AIDS reported cases compared to 1993-95 among teens, females, and Black Non-Hispanics in MDC. AIDS cases associated with heterosexual contact significantly rose, while cases related to male sexual contact with other male (MSM) remain the same; an indication, Dr. Velis stated, that education related interventions seem to have been more effective among the latter group.
“There is a need for aggressive HIV testing and primary prevention level type of interventions must be much more specific,” said Velis. “Educational programs must be specifically targeting those groups at higher risk; dissemination of detailed information regarding risk factors and clear identification of the groups at risk must be part of any educational program. This is a communicable chronic disease and we must be prepared for a long journey.”
Velis stressed that despite all educational efforts the vast majority of HIV/AIDS cases are still associated to sexual behavior in both genders. Unprotected heterosexual contact has become the most relevant risk factor, replacing unprotected male sexual contact with other male which was the top exposure category fifteen years ago.
