Ryan White and Native American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

HIV rates among American Indians and Alaska Natives are lower than rates reported among most racial/ethnic groups but higher than rates among Asians and whites, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

According to the 2017 Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Annual Client-Level Data Report, the proportion of RWHAP clients who achieved viral suppression increased steadily from 2010 to 2016, from 69.5% in 2010 to 85.2% in 2016. Rate improvements were comparable American Indian/Alaska Native RWHAP clients, increasing from 78.1% to 84.4% over this time period.

March 20 is National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day 

TA and Training Resources

Various resources have been developed to address HIV/AIDS among Native American and Alaska Native populations. Below are highlights:

• Clinician's Guide: Working with Native Americans Living with HIV. This document is for medical providers, and it summarizes cultural challenges and solutions for delivering HIV/AIDS care to Native Americans. The guide was developed in 2002 and has since been updated
• BESAFE: A Cultural Competency Model for American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians. This cultural competency guide, one in a series of such resources, is for health-care professionals providing services to these populations. The guide is based on the BE SAFE framework (Barriers to Care, Ethics, Sensitivity of the Provider, Assessment, Facts, and Encounters)