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Access to health care and geographic mobility of HIV/AIDS patients
R S Hogg1, M T Schechter, A Schilder
1British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital/University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Insights
Mobility patterns for people with HIV/AIDS are influenced by factors like diagnosis location and pre-HIV income. Access to care and stable housing also play a role in where individuals with HIV/AIDS choose to live.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- HIV/AIDS Research
Background:
- Understanding mobility patterns is crucial for public health planning and resource allocation for populations with HIV/AIDS.
- Previous research has not extensively detailed the determinants of residential mobility in this demographic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the patterns and determinants of residential mobility among individuals diagnosed with HIV infection or AIDS.
- To identify factors influencing where persons with HIV/AIDS choose to live.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive, cross-sectional population health study was conducted.
- Data were collected from 252 individuals living with HIV/AIDS in British Columbia.
- Migration history, access to HIV care at diagnosis, sociodemographic characteristics, and health status were assessed.
Main Results:
- Access to HIV care at diagnosis was linked to being diagnosed in a major metropolitan area (OR = 2.14).
- Higher pre-HIV income ($30,000+) was associated with different mobility patterns (OR = 0.49).
- Early diagnosis (pre-1990) and stable residence post-diagnosis were significant factors (p=0.019, p=0.024).
Conclusions:
- While not establishing causality, the study indicates that treatment and care needs significantly influence residential choices for people with HIV/AIDS.
- Findings highlight the interplay between healthcare access, socioeconomic factors, and geographic stability in the lives of individuals with HIV/AIDS.
Objective:
To determine the patterns and determinants of mobility in persons with HIV infection or AIDS on a population basis.
Design:
Descriptive cross-sectional population health study.
Target Population:
650 full members (i.e., HIV-positive) of the Vancouver Persons with AIDS Society who were residents of British Columbia and who allow the society to include unsolicited material with their monthly newsletter.
Main Outcome Measures:
Migration history, access to HIV-related care at diagnosis, current and pre-HIV sociodemographic characteristics, and current health status.
Results:
Two hundred and fifty-two persons living with HIV/AIDS participated in the study. At the time of the survey, the majority of subjects were male (94 percent), aged between 30 and 54 years (87 percent), and able to carry out daily activities without assistance (84 percent). The median time since the known date of HIV infection was 6 years. Access to care at diagnosis was associated in this population with being diagnosed in the largest metropolitan area in the province (OR = 2.14; 95 percent CI: 1.18, 3.87), a pre-HIV income of $30,000 or more per annum (OR = 0.49; 95 percent CI: 0.27, 0.89), a known date of diagnosis prior to 1990 (78 percent versus 64 percent; p = 0.019), and living in the same residence from the date of known HIV diagnosis to the date of the survey (63 percent versus 51 percent; p = 0.024).
Conclusion:
Although no definitive causal association can be provided by this cross-sectional analysis, our results clearly highlight several ways in which the need for treatment and care potentially affect where persons with HIV/AIDS choose to live.
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