4:20
Sarah Boden: With COVID, it s sort of straightforward, having a safe and stable place to live allows a person to isolate from others who might be infected with this respiratory virus. With HIV, the patterns of transmission are very different because the virus is spread through certain bodily fluids like blood or semen. So how does housing insecurity increase someone s chances of contracting HIV?
Aishah Scott: Thank you so much for this question because it s multilayered. One that people who have housing, one, will have more connections to care. Right? They are going to be able to go to a pharmacy and have a regular space to fill prescriptions. They re more likely to have regular doctors that they can go to. So one, if someone does become infected they re able to get connected to care. And we now know that people who are connected to care, and are able to get their [viral load] levels undetectable are not transmitting HIV when they have intercourse. So that s one way.
90.5 WESA s The Confluence for Thursday, February 25, 2021
On today s program: The Pennsylvania State Education Association says it’s disappointed the U.S. Department of Education is not waiving annual assessments but appreciates flexibility from the state; PA Youth Congress, a youth LGBTQ advocacy organization, says there is an epidemic of violence against transgender people; and a researcher explains how HIV and COVID-19 have disproportionately affected people of color.
Schools continue to struggle with standardized testing delays amidst pandemic
(0:00 6:17)
The U.S. Department of Education decided against waiving standardized tests despite many teachers calling upon the Biden Administration to cancel them amidst the pandemic.
On today's program: health reporter Sarah Boden explains how new state guidance on vaccine distribution could make it more difficult for small pharmacies
On today's program: Two researchers from Pittsburgh-based institutions found Black Americans are more likely to live further from a vaccine distribution