End The Syndemic TN
End The Syndemic TN
End the Syndemic exists to build a healthier Tennessee by addressing HIV, STIs, substance use disorder and viral hepatitis as interconnected challenges – not isolated issues
How is a Syndemic
Identified?
Syndemics occur when two or more health conditions cluster and interact within a population because of social and structural factors. This leads to an increased burden of disease and enhanced health disparities.
To be considered a syndemic three criteria need to be met:
(1) Data has to demonstrate separate epidemics are actually occurring; (2) The included health conditions interact through behavior or biology to increase overall health burden; and (3)There must be common social factors contribute to and sustain the epidemics.
Using this criteria the health conditions included in End the Syndemic Tennessee are: HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STI), substance use disorder (SUD), and viral hepatitis (VH).
Based of the criteria to define a syndemic Tennessee’s syndemic includes Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), substance use disorder and viral hepatitis. Click on each topic below to learn more!
After the HIV and hepatitis C outbreak associated with injection drug use in Scott County, Indiana, the CDC conducted a national analysis to understand what other counties in the United States were vulnerable to this sort of incident. Their assessment identified 220 counties in the U.S. that were most vulnerable, and 41 of those 220 counties are in Tennessee.
When TDH conducted their own vulnerability assessment using more recent data and local indicators they found even more widespread vulnerability. Every single county in Tennessee was vulnerable to this sort of outbreak to some degree.
The HIV and HCV outbreak vulnerability assessment alongside epidemiology trends in Tennessee made it clear a new and integrated approach to addressing HIV, sexually transmitted infections, substance use disorder, and viral hepatitis epidemics was necessary. Explore the data trends below that support a syndemic approach in Tennessee.
After the HIV and hepatitis C outbreak associated with injection drug use in Scott County, Indiana, the CDC conducted a national analysis to understand what other counties in the United States were vulnerable to this sort of incident. Their assessment identified 220 counties in the U.S. that were most vulnerable, and 41 of those 220 counties are in Tennessee.
When TDH conducted their own vulnerability assessment using more recent data and local indicators they found even more widespread vulnerability. Every single county in Tennessee was vulnerable to this sort of outbreak to some degree. You can learn more about Tennessee assessment by clicking the button to the left.
The vulnerability assessment among epidemiology trends in the state, made it clear that the HIV, sexually transmitted infection, substance use disorder, and viral hepatitis epidemics were intertwined, pushing TDH to take a new approach to strategic planning. This is when the idea of End the Syndemic Tennessee began to really take form. You can explore how we approached this strategic planning process below.
Guiding principles are fundamental values and ethical standards that guide decision-making, implementation, evaluation, and all other actions taken as part of End the Syndemic Tennessee.
The following guiding principles were develop in partnership with community and are at the core of End the Syndemic Tennessee.
Health Justice
Health justice addresses short-term differences in need (health equity) while also working towards long-term sustainable and equal access to health and wellness resources, which requires addressing social and structural barriers to health.
Status-Neutral Care
Status Neutrality, is a whole person approach characterized by delivering high-quality and comprehensive services regardless of whether a person diagnosed with a condition or not. Treatment is prevention. Prevention is treatment.
Evidence-Based Programs
Evidence-based approaches incorporate quantitative (numbers) and qualitative (words/feelings) data into decision making.
This is supported by quality data collection that is shared with community in accessible and acceptable ways.
Health Autonomy
Health autonomy is the principle that people have the right to make informed decisions about their own body, health, and wellbeing including the choice to engage or not engage in services. Health autonomy centers empowerment over control.
Please allow 2-3 business days for a response.
Syndemic Coordination Team Syndemic.Coordination@tn.gov
