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Behavioral and Clinical Characteristics of Persons with Diagnosed HIV

At a glance

More work is needed to meet national quality of life goals—including physical health, mental or emotional health, and housing, financial, and food security—and HIV stigma. In 2022, 70% of people with HIV reported good or better self-rated health and 27% had unmet needs for mental health services among those with a need. People with HIV experienced challenges with unstable housing or homelessness (18%), unemployment (11%), hunger/food insecurity (19%), and with HIV stigma.

Image describing the HIV surveillance report series.

Key findings

This graphic shows diverse people with the text "It's important for people with HIV have a high quality of life. Physical health, mental and emotional health, and housing, financial, and food security are all indicators of quality of life."
Everyone deserves a high quality of life.
In 2018, 72% of people rated their overall health as good or better; in 2019, 71% of people rated their overall health as good or better; in 2020, 72% of people rated their overall health as good or better; in 2021, 69% of people rated their overall health as good or better; and in 2022, 70% of people rated their overall health as good or better. The 2025 NHAS goal is 95%.
Health among people with diagnosed HIV
In 2017, 24% of people had an unmet need for mental health services; in 2018, 20% of people had an unmet need for mental health services; in 2019, 21% of people had an unmet need for mental health services; in 2020, 21% of people had an unmet need for mental health services; in 2021, 28% of people had an unmet need for mental health services; and in 2022, 27% of people had an unmet need for mental health services. The 2025 NHAS goal is 12%.
Unmet mental health needs among people with diagnosed HIV
In 2018, 21% of people reported unstable housing or homelessness; in 2019, 20% of people reported unstable housing or homelessness; in 2020, 17% of people reported unstable housing or homelessness; in 2021, 17% of people reported unstable housing or homelessness; and in 2022, 18% of people reported unstable housing or homelessness. The 2025 NHAS goal is 11%.
Unstable housing or homelessness among people with diagnosed HIV
In 2017, 15% of people reported unemployment; in 2018, 14% of people reported unemployment; in 2019, 14% of people reported unemployment; in 2020, 18% of people reported unemployment; in 2021, 15% of people reported unemployment; and in 2022, 11% of people reported unemployment. The 2025 NHAS goal is 8%.
Unemployment among people with diagnosed HIV, 2017-2022
In 2017, 21% of people reported hunger or food insecurity; in 2018, 20% of people reported hunger or food insecurity; in 2019, 20% of people reported hunger or food insecurity; in 2020, 16% of people reported hunger or food insecurity; in 2021, 16% of people reported hunger or food insecurity; and in 2022, 19% of people reported hunger or food insecurity. The 2025 NHAS goal is 11%.
Hunger or food insecurity among people with diagnosed HIV, 2017-2022
In 2018, the median HIV stigma score was 31; in 2019, the median HIV stigma score was 31; in 2020, the median HIV stigma score was 28; in 2021, the median HIV stigma score was 29; and in 2022, the median HIV stigma score was 29. The 2025 NHAS goal is 16.
HIV stigma among people with diagnosed HIV
Image of hands placed on top of each other with the text "CDC is collaborating with partners to improve the reach of HIV prevention education, reduce barriers to services, and fund and support health departments and community-based organizations to implement programs that address overall quality of life among people with HIV.”
CDC collaboration with partners

Using this data

Technical notes

For the most up-to-date technical notes for HIV surveillance and monitoring, see the Technical Notes in the NCHHSTP Atlas Plus.

Suggested citation

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Behavioral and Clinical Characteristics of Persons with Diagnosed HIV Infection—Medical Monitoring Project, United States, 2022 Cycle (June 2022–May 2023). HIV Surveillance Special Report 36. https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/159149. Published July 2024. Accessed [date].

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