Question

Each year the Community Planning Groups determine the priority populations for HIV prevention in Nevada after reviewing current epidemiological data and discussing rates and trends of HIV infection in the state. What priority population does northern Nevada have that southern Nevada does not?

HIV+

MSM

Sexually Active Heterosexuals

Youth and Young Adult (13-34), including those of color

Answer 1

A priority population of a place is defined by demographic factors like age, gender, race or even income level, marital status , sexual preference etc. Geography of the place and ethnicity also demark a priority population.

Epidemiological data is the data collected after careful study and analysis of the distribution and risk factors of a health and disease condition that might affect a defined population. It helps to analyse the vulnerability of a particular population to diseases. It is very important as it helps governments to shape their policy decisions regarding preventive healthcare.

Population growth in Southern Nevada as compared to the other part over a period of 1969 to 2016 shows a stark rise. While the northern part showed an increase by about 512.5%, in southern Nevada it was by about 698.4%

Geographically, Southern Nevada is partly in the Mojave desert and its most important city is Las Vegas.

The percentage of youth and young adult in Southern Nevada is about 33.69% which is almost equal to that of Northern Nevada which is 33.22%.

The male- female % in both the parts also compare favourably; males-- 49.97% and females- 50.03% in S.Nevada

males 50.17% and females 49.83% in N.Nevada

Unemployment rate ,as per the latest cencus is 10.62% and 10.45% in southern and northern Nevada respectively.

People below the poverty line is 11.62% in S.Nevada and 9.19% in N.Nevada.

In 2014, 87% of people newly diagnosed with HIV were male and 74% among these reported a transmission category of male-to-male[ MSM ] sexual contact.

Among newly diagnosed females, 52% reported no identified risk while about 36% reported heterosexual contact.

Based on race and ethnicity the most vulnerable populations were those of white non Hispanics, black non-Hispanics and Hispanics; a whopping 93%.

Age of diagnosis was the highest for the youth and young adults-- 57%. This included all the affected ethnic and racial groups.

Transmission category was the highest by MSM i.e. about 65%.

The next highest category of transmission was by heterosexual contact i.e. about 7%.

Nevada ranks 32nd among all the states in infant mortality rate and lags behind the national average for health care services.