American Indian
HIV/AIDS Prevalence among American Indians
As of December 31st 2014, there were 121 American Indians living with HIV/AIDS in Minnesota.
Although this only accounts for 2 percent of persons living with HIV/AIDS in Minnesota, American
Indian persons have more than twice the rate of people living with HIV than white, non-Hispanic
persons (198.6 per 100,000 persons and 90.3 per 100,000 persons respectively).
While the number of cases among American Indians in Minnesota has been relatively stable and
low it is important to note this group has been found to have their race misclassified often by
providers. A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the HIV/AIDS
Surveillance data for five states found that thirty percent of American Indian cases were
misclassified, mostly as white 1. It is possible that similar misclassification occurs in the Minnesota
data and impacts the reported number of cases for American Indians in the state.
HIV Diagnoses among American Indians
Over the past ten years, new infections among American Indians has remained relatively low with
an average of 6 new diagnoses a year with low of 3 diagnoses in 2005 and a high of 11 diagnoses
in 2010. In 2014, there were 5 HIV/AIDS diagnoses among American Indians, two male and three
female.
HIV Infections* Among American Indians
by Estimated Mode of Exposure
2012 - 2014
Gender and Mode of
Exposure
Of the 12 American Indian males
diagnosed between 2012 and
2014, 37% had an estimated
mode of exposure of MSM, 27%
IDU, 18% MSM/IDU, and
18%heterosexual contact with
someone with or at risk for HIV
infection. Of the 9 American
Indian
females
diagnosed
between 2012 and 2014, 75%
CAUTION: Small number of cases – interpret carefully.
American Indian Males (n = 12)
American Indian Females (n = 9)
MSM/IDU
18%
IDU
25%
IDU
27%
MSM
37%
Heterosex
18%
n = Number of persons MSM = Men who have sex with men
IDU = Injecting drug use
Heterosex = Heterosexual contact with someone with or at risk for HIV
Other = Hemophilia, transplant, transfusion, mother w/ HIV or HIV risk
* HIV or AIDS at first diagnosis
1
Bertolli J, Lee LM, Sullivan PS, AI/AN Race Ethnicity Validation Workgroup. Racial Misclassification of American Indians/Alaska Natives in
the HIV/AIDS Reporting Systems of Five States and One Urban Health Jurisdiction, U.S., 1984-2002. Public Health Reports, 122(3):382392, 2007
Minnesota HIV/AIDS Epidemiologic Profile—American Indian
December 2015
Heterosex
75%
had an estimated mode of exposure of heterosexual contact with someone with or at risk for HIV
infection and 25% IDU.
Geography
Compared to other race/ethnicities, HIV positive American Indians have a higher percentage of
people living in Greater Minnesota (outside the 11-county metro area) at 23%. This is not
surprising since there are several Indian reservations in Greater Minnesota.
HIV Treatment Cascade among American Indians
There were 116 HIV positive American Indians included in the treatment cascade analyses.
Compared to the overall treatment cascade in Minnesota, American Indians have a higher
percentage in retention in care, and viral suppression.
There were six diagnoses among American Indians in 2013 that were included in the linkage to
care calculation. All six diagnoses linked to medical care within 90 days of their diagnosis. It is
important to note the numbers of HIV cases in this community are quite small, particularly for
linkage to care measure and should be interpreted carefully.
Percentage of American Indians diagnosed with HIV
engaged in selected stages of the continuum of care,
2014– Minnesota
100%
100%
100%
100%
87%
90%
80%
80%
72%
70%
67%
63%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Overall Cascade
PLWH
Linkage to Care
n=7,728
American Indian
Retention in Care
Viral Suppression
n=116
Minnesota HIV/AIDS Epidemiologic Profile—American Indian
December 2015