Anti-immigrant 'public charge' policy may have contributed to rise in HIV among Hispanic ropulations
Following the Trump administration's 2018 announcement of changes to the public charge rule that would penalize immigrants for using public benefit programs, antisanctuary counties in the U.S. saw a 16.8% increase in HIV cases among Hispanic populations, compared with baseline counties.
A new study reveals that the Trump administration's 2018 changes to the public charge rule, which penalized immigrants for using public benefit programs, may have contributed to a 16.8% increase in HIV cases among Hispanic populations in antisanctuary counties. The researchers, led by Dr. Carlos Rodriguez-Diaz from Boston University School of Public Health and Dr. Jordan Herring from the University of South Carolina, analyzed county-level HIV incidence rates from 2010-2022 and found no comparable increase among Black populations.
The study suggests that anti-immigration policies can impede public health efforts and prevent the U.S. from achieving its goal of ending the HIV epidemic. The findings highlight the need for better addressing the social and structural barriers that prevent people from accessing HIV care and prevention services.
Written by urgent.news from Medical Xpress's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
