• Euna August, Muktar H Aliyu, Alfred Mbah, Ifechukwude Okwechime, Korede K Adegoke, Cara de la Cruz, Estrellita Lo Berry, and Hamisu M Salihu.
• From the Departments of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, University of South Florida, Department of Health Policy and Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, Alabama A&M University, Huntsville, and REACHUP Incorporated, Tampa, Florida.
• South. Med. J. 2015 Apr 1; 108 (4): 235-41.

ObjectivesTo examine the impact of the Central Hillsborough Healthy Start Project (CHHS) on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) diagnosis rates in women in Hillsborough County, Florida.MethodsProject records were linked to hospital discharge data and vital statistics (Florida, 1998-2007; N = 1,696,221). The χ(2) test was used to compare rates for HIV/AIDS and pregnancy-related complications for mothers within the CHHS service area with mothers in Hillsborough County and the rest of Florida.ResultsDuring a 10-year period, HIV/AIDS diagnosis rates among women in the CHHS service area declined by 56.3% (P = 0.01). The observed decline was most evident among black women. HIV/AIDS diagnosis rates in the rest of Hillsborough County and Florida remained unchanged (P = 0.48).ConclusionsLessons learned from the CHHS Project can be used to develop effective and comprehensive models for addressing the HIV epidemic.

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