Why Is This Important?

HIV is a virus that weakens a person's immune system by destroying cells that fight disease and infection. No cure exists for HIV but with proper medical care, HIV can be controlled.¹

Definition

Deaths with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease as the underlying cause of death. ICD-10 codes: B20-B24

Data Sources

• Death Certificate Database, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, New Jersey Department of Health
  (https://www.nj.gov/health/vital/)
• Population Estimates, State Data Center, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
  (https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/demographics/population-household-estimates/)
• Underlying Cause of Death, CDC WONDER On-line Database, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  (https://wonder.cdc.gov/Deaths-by-Underlying-Cause.html)

How the Measure is Calculated

How Are We Doing?

The age-adjusted death rate due to HIV disease has been steadily declining since 1996. All original Healthy New Jersey 2020 (HNJ2020) targets were achieved by 2010 and the revised targets were met by 2018. While the rate among Blacks decreased 88% between 2000 and 2020, it remains about 16 times the White rate and 4 times the Hispanic rate. The rate among males remains more than double that of females.

How Do We Compare With the U.S.?

In 2020, for the first time, the age-adjusted death rate due to HIV disease in New Jersey was the same as that of the US as a whole. Prior to that, New Jersey's rate had always been above the national rate.

What Is Being Done?

New Jersey has initiated an HIV Pre Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) initiative that places PrEP Counselors in 31 locations across the state. Free, confidential rapid HIV testing is offered at over 100 rapid HIV testing sites throughout NJ. The HIV Prevention Patient Navigator Program located in 15 HIV clinics is a linkage to care initiative that can help persons who test positive or are not in HIV care obtain an appointment for care and treatment on the same or next business day. There are also 44 community-based projects providing HIV prevention services to high risk populations located in areas that have been heavily impacted by the HIV epidemic. Several state-wide initiatives also provide intensive, specialized HIV prevention and risk reduction services including drop-in centers, syringe access programs, and church based prevention initiatives.

Available Services

NJDOH AIDS/STD Hotline: 800-624-2377

NJDOH HIV Care and Support Services: https://www.nj.gov/health/hivstdtb/hiv-aids/index.shtml

More Resources

CDC HIV Info: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/

HIV.gov: http://www.hiv.gov/

Health Program Information

NJDOH HIV Prevention and Care Services: http://nj.gov/health/hivstdtb/hiv-aids/

Footnote References

1. CDC, About HIV, 1/24/24