Association Between HIV Risk and Health Care Access Among U.S. Adults in the South: Insights from the 2022 Behavioral...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Health Services Research

Background:

• The Southern United States bears a high burden of new Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) diagnoses.
• Limited data exists on the association between HIV risk behaviors and healthcare access among vulnerable populations in this region.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between HIV risk behaviors and healthcare access among adults in the Southern U.S.
• To identify specific healthcare access barriers faced by individuals at risk for HIV in the South.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data for Southern states.
• Inclusion of 191,266 adult respondents.
• Application of Rao-Scott Chi-square tests and weighted logistic regression analyses using complex sampling design in SAS v. 9.4.

Main Results:

• Individuals at risk for HIV in the South showed higher odds of lacking health insurance, a personal doctor, and delaying routine check-ups.
• After adjusting for covariates, adults at risk for HIV had significantly higher odds (OR=1.69) of being unable to afford medical care due to financial constraints.
• Unadjusted analyses also revealed higher odds for lacking insurance (OR=1.55), a personal doctor (OR=2.00), and delayed check-ups (OR=1.75) among those at risk.

Conclusions:

• Adults at risk for HIV in the Southern U.S. experience substantial healthcare access challenges, particularly financial barriers.
• Enhancing access to HIV preventive services is vital for reducing transmission risks and financial strain.
• Re-evaluation of these associations post-pandemic is recommended to inform future HIV prevention strategies.