Table of Contents

ABSTRACT

Louisiana is suffering from an epidemic of HIV, and East Baton Rouge has been listed as one of the jumpstart locations for the CDC’s priority programs to end HIV. The populations that are disproportionately impacted are gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM), those who identify as transgender, and minorities. This narrative review is aimed to understand why these populations experience HIV disproportionately. Condom use, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) access and use, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and incarceration were found to be major contributors. Primary care practitioners (PCPs) are a vital part of the next steps to address these shortcomings by providing HIV primary care. This would be embodied by providing sensitive and unbiased care, prescribing PrEP, prescribing antiretroviral medications, and incorporating more holistic care. This holistic care could involve workshops for HIV education, practice negotiating condom use, and working with a multidisciplinary team to decrease sociodemographic disparities. Furthermore, PCPs can act as the healthcare bridge between incarceration and post-release. There was no literature regarding transgender populations in Louisiana. This is an important direction for future research.

Keywords: Human immunodeficiency virus, HIV, people living with HIV, PLWH, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, AIDS, gay, bisexual, men who have sex with men, GBM, minority, transgender, incarceration, pre-exposure prophylaxis, PrEP, primary care provider, PCP, Louisiana