City of Hartford Health Department

 SUMMARY

In 1999, 109 new cases of AIDS among Hartford residents were reported to the Connecticut Department of Public Health, the lowest number since 1991 (see figure 1). 

These cases represent new diagnoses of AIDS. This declining pattern of new AIDS cases among Hartford residents parallels a similar pattern among Connecticut residents. (Figure 2)

In contrast to the declining pattern of new AIDS cases reported in the past 2 years, the number of persons estimated to be living with AIDS in Connecticut and in Hartford has doubled since 1992. As of June 30, 2000, there are an estimated 1,246 adults living with AIDS in the City of Hartford. There are an estimated 5,589 adults living with AIDS in Connecticut. Hartford adult residents with AIDS account for 22% of adult AIDS cases statewide. (Figure 3).

Gender:

Male 73%

Female 27%

Age Group: (Table 1).

There are estimated to be 16 children less than 10 years of age, and another 9 youths, aged 10 to 19 years with AIDS in Hartford. AIDS cases are equally distributed among boys and girls. This gender distribution changes significantly from age 20 years, with men accounting for two to three times the number of AIDS cases compared to women.

Race/Ethnicity: (Figure 4)

Of the 1,246 adult Hartford residents living with AIDS, 47% are Hispanic, 40% Black, 12% non-Hispanic white, and 1% other race. (Figure 4).

Risk/Mode of Transmission: (Figure 5)

Of current adult Hartford residents living with AIDS, recorded risk or mode of HIV transmission are, intravenous drug use (67%), heterosexual transmission (15%), male to male sexual transmission (11%), male to male sexual transmission and intravenous drug use (3%), and other or unknown mode of HIV transmission (4%) Figure 5. Changing trends in mode of HIV transmission are discussed below.

This section reports trends over the past decade of reported AIDS cases by gender, race, mode of HIV transmission, and AIDS among children (pediatric AIDS).

Gender: (Figure 6)

The percentage of reported AIDS cases that are female increased from 18% to 30% from 1990 to 1999 (figure 6). With the decline in overall incidence of AIDS in the late 1990s, the number of AIDS cases among women has not declined as rapidly as those among men. In the 1990s, statewide and in Hartford, women are reported with AIDS at a younger age than men (20.8% vs. 12.6%) in the 13 – 29 years age group. In the two most recent years reported, 1998 and 1999, there were no reported AIDS cases among 10 – 19 year old Hartford residents.

Race / Ethnicity: (Figure 7)

There have been changes in the racial / ethnic distribution of AIDS cases in Hartford, and in the demographics of Hartford’s population in the past decade. The percentage of AIDS cases who are Black rose from 45% in the 1980s to 50% in 1991 - 1993 period. This rate declined to 42% by 1994, and has remained level since. The percentage of AIDS cases who are Hispanic was 32% in the 1980s, this percentage rose in the mid 1990s to 44%, and has remained close to that level since. The percentage of cases who are white was 22% in the 1980s. This percentage declined to 14% in the early 1990s, and has remained close to this level since. Some of the changes in AIDS distribution by race reflect changes in the racial distribution among Hartford’s population. The percentage of Hartford residents who are Hispanic has increased from 32% (1990 census) to an estimated 38% in 1998. Over the same time period the percentage who are non-Hispanic white has declined from 30% (1990 census) to an estimated 23% in 1998. Black Hartford residents make up 37% residents in 1998, similar to the 1990 census (36%).

Mode of Transmission / Infection risk: (Figure 8)

The three principles reported modes of transmission of HIV among AIDS cases are intravenous drug use (IDU), men having sex with men (MSM), and heterosexual transmission. Intravenous drug use (IDU) has remained the most prevalent reported mode of transmission of HIV infection among Hartford’s AIDS cases. IDU accounted for 55% of transmission in the late 1980s, rose to 63 to 68% through 1997, and has declined to 55% and 53% in 1998 and 1999 respectively. The percentage of cases reported as men having sex with men (MSM) has decreased from 27% of cases in the 1980s, to 21% in 1991, and averages 11% from 1997 through 1999 (Figure 8). As the percentage of cases from IDU and MSM decline, the percentage from heterosexual transmission rose from less than 10% of cases in late 80s and early 90s to 16% of cases from 1997 through 1999. The percentage of cases reported as other/unknown/unreported mode of transmission has risen among Hartford AIDS cases from 1% in the early 1990s, to 3% in the mid 1990s, and to 11% and 16% in 1998 and 1999 respectively.

Pediatric AIDS: (Figure 9)

Pediatric age group is from birth through 18 years.

In 1999, 2 cases of AIDS were reported among Hartford children, both in the birth to 10 year age group. No pediatric AIDS cases were reported among Hartford residents in 1997 or 1998. There were few pediatric AIDS cases reported in Hartford in the early 1990s, then a peak of pediatric AIDS cases from 1994 through 1996, and currently a decline with two cases in the last three years recorded, (Figure 9). This pattern of pediatric AIDS cases parallels the pattern for AIDS cases in the state overall in the 1990s. The majority of pediatric AIDS cases statewide have resulted from exposure to HIV at birth.

In contrast to AIDS reporting which includes full demographic information, age, gender, race, town of residence, as well as mode of transmission, laboratory testing for HIV may be performed without full demographic disclosure. In Connecticut, in 1999, 833 laboratory reports of positive HIV results were received. Among these 833 cases, missing demographic information was common; 27% did not report gender, 26% age, 41% town of residence, and 92% race.

Therefore an estimate on number of persons with HIV infection is made. This estimate is based on a ‘multiplier’, developed by Connecticut Department of Public Health, based on known relationship of AIDS to HIV cases in a population with similar demographic distribution and known rates of AIDS and HIV, New Jersey. This multiplier is more accurate when dealing with large populations, such as the state. Based on this multiplier, 1.8, the current estimate of persons living with HIV infection in Hartford is approximately 2,243. This is an approximate number.

This report was prepared by The Institute for Outcomes Research and Evaluation at Hartford Hospital for The City of Hartford Health Department with data from Connecticut Department of Public Health; HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report. Year – End Edition" December 31, 1999, and Connecticut HIV/AIDS Surveillance Program.

Contact Information:
Tung Nguyen, MPH, Epidemiologist, Hartford Health Department
Mailing Address:
City of Hartford Health Department
131 Coventry Street
Hartford, CT 06112
e-mail: tnguyen@ci.hartford.ct.us

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Page last modified: August 08, 2005
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