Monday, May 19, 2025
5/19/2025
District of Columbia National HIV Behavioral Surveillance - An estimated 1.8% (n=12,408) of the resident population in the District of Columbia is living with HIV based on case report and laboratory data collected as part of routine disease surveillance activities. With an estimated 10% of individuals living with HIV in the District unaware of their infection status, the true burden of HIV in the jurisdiction is even higher than that documented by surveillance data. While the magnitude of declines has varied over the past decade, a reduction in the annual number of newly diagnosed HIV cases in the District continues to be observed. In 2019, 282 individuals were newly diagnosed with HIV in the District, marking a 29% decrease from the number of newly diagnosed HIV cases documented in 2015 (n=399). Unfortunately, such declines have not been consistent across all populations, contributing to persistent demographic disparities in the risk and burden of HIV infection within the District. A 42% decline in the number of newly diagnosed HIV cases was observed within the White population over the past five years, compared with 24% and 37% declines over the same time period documented within the Black and Latino communities, respectively. Overall, Black men who have sex with men (MSM) (31%) and Black women (21%) accounted for the largest proportion of newly diagnosed HIV cases in the District from 2015 through 2019 (n=1,766), followed by White (9%) and Latino (9%) MSM. While likely underestimated due to the limitations of surveillance data, approximately 3% of newly diagnosed HIV cases in the District from 2015 through 2019 occurred within the transgender community. During the same time period, approximately 4% of newly diagnosed HIV cases were accounted for by persons who inject drugs (PWID). Slightly over 50% of all individuals living in the District diagnosed with HIV are 50 years of age or older; however, newly diagnosed HIV cases tend to occur within younger age cohorts. From 2015 through 2019, approximately 34% of newly diagnosed HIV cases in the District occurred among those aged 20 to 29, with individuals aged 30 to 39 (28%) accounting for the second largest proportion of newly diagnosed HIV cases. Geographically, the highest HIV burden and rates of new infection are observed in the southeast region of the District, comprised of Wards 5,6, 7, and 8. The HIV/AID, Hepatitis, STD, & TB Administration (HAHSTA) within the District of Columbia Department of Health (DC Health) recently initiated the DC Ends HIV Plan outlining HIV prevention and treatment strategies targeted towards ensuring that 95% of HIV positive District residents are aware of their status; 95% of District residents diagnosed with HIV are in treatment; 95% of District residents living with HIV who are in treatment are virally suppressed; and over 13,000 District residents at high-risk for HIV infection are engaged in PrEP utilization. By the end of 2030, the District has a target of fewer than 130 new HIV diagnoses per year. Given the high prevalence of PWID within the District (Estimated Population=12,000 individuals) and the disproportionate impact of HIV within the MSM, Black female heterosexual, and transgender communities, the development and implementation of effective HIV prevention strategies requires an understanding of behavioral risk patterns; service utilization characteristics; risk/harm reduction awareness; and ancillary health and wellness needs within these target populations. Since 2006, DC Health has successfully engaged in CDC-supported National HIV Behavioral Surveillance (NHBS) activities through its Public Health-Academic Partnership with The George Washington University (GW) Milken Institute School of Public Health. This application describes the ongoing implementation of future NHBS cycles (e.g., IDU, MSM, HET, Trans, WES) as specified in the funding announcement.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).