Evaluating HIV/AIDS Disparities for Blacks in the United States: A Review of Antiretroviral and Mortality Studies

The purpose of this systematic review was to identify studies that evaluated HIV/AIDS disparities by examining differences in the receipt of antiretroviral therapy and differences in mortality between blacks and whites in the United States. The authors conducted 2 Web-based literature searches of the MEDLINE database for published peer reviewed scientific articles that analyzed black race as a predictor of antiretroviral therapy and mortality. Five reports met the criteria for the antiretroviral literature search, whereas seven reports met the criteria for the mortality literature search. After evaluating individual study results, it appears the evidence to identify racial differences in the receipt of antiretroviral therapy as well as the evidence to document disparities in mortality is either limited or mixed. Further research is needed to support or refute the hypothesis that there are inequalities for blacks with HIV/AIDS.