Associations between population density and clinical and sociodemographic factors in women living with HIV in the Southern United States.
AIDS Care
; 33(2): 229-238, 2021 02.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32449377
ABSTRACT
To explore the associations of urbanicity with clinical/behavioral outcomes and sociodemographic factors among women living with HIV in the Southern United States, 523 participants of the Women's Interagency HIV Study were classified into population density quartiles. Rural-Urban Commuting Area codes revealed that 7% resided in areas where >30% commute to urban areas, 2% resided in small towns or rural areas, and 91% resided in varying densities of urban areas. Although women in lower density, mostly suburban areas reported higher socioeconomic indicators such as advanced education and greater annual household income, larger proportions of women in the lowest density quartile perceived discrimination in health care settings and agreed with several internalized HIV stigma scale items. Women in the lower quartiles had higher CD4 counts, while those in the lowest quartile were more likely to have a suppressed HIV viral load, report being employed, and not report a history of drug use or current heavy alcohol use. More research is needed to understand the interplay between population density and mechanisms contributing to HIV control as well as increased internalized stigma and perceived discrimination, along with how to target interventions to improve outcomes for individuals with HIV across urban, suburban, and rural areas.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Rural Population
/
Urban Population
/
HIV Infections
/
Population Density
/
Anti-HIV Agents
/
Social Stigma
Type of study:
Risk_factors_studies
Aspects:
Determinantes_sociais_saude
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
America do norte
Language:
En
Journal:
AIDS Care
Journal subject:
SINDROME DA IMUNODEFICIENCIA ADQUIRIDA (AIDS)
Year:
2021
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States