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Gender Differences in Psychosocial Factors Associated with HIV Viral Suppression Among African–American Injection Drug Users

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Abstract

Research suggests gender differences exist in achieving undetectable viral load (UVL) among persons living with HIV (PLHIV), and that psychosocial health factors may play a role. The present study examined these factors among African-American PLHIV enrolled in the BEACON study. Participants completed self-report surveys and gave biomarker data. Poisson regression with robust standard errors was implemented. Men with moderate religious activity had 1.3 times the likelihood of UVL as men with low religious activity (p < 0.10; N = 199). Men with 1–2 mental illness diagnoses had 1.3 times the likelihood of UVL as men with none (p < 0.05). Women using 1–2 substances had 28 % lower likelihood of UVL than non-using women (N = 122; p < 0.10). Finally, women with frequent doctor-patient communication had 35 % higher likelihood of UVL as women with less doctor-patient communication (p < 0.05). Results suggest that social support, substance use, and mental illness function differently among men and women. Healthcare professionals should employ gender-specific interventions to address and improve HIV health outcomes.

Resumen

Investigaciones recientes sugieren que hay diferencias entre los géneros en el logro de carga viral indetectable del VIH (CVi). Este investigación evaluó esto en afroamericános con el VIH. Los datos fueron del estudio BEACON. Los participantes completaron encuestras y pruebas de biomarcadores. En análisis estadísticos, regresión de Poisson con errores estándar robustos fueron utilizado. Hombres que participaron en actividades religiosos fueron 1.3 veces más probable lograr la CVi, que los hombres con menos actividades religiosos (p < 0.10; N = 199). Hombres con 1-2 enfermedades mentales fueron 1.3 veces más probable lograr la CVi, que los hombres sin estos (p < 0.05). Mujeres que usaron 1-2 sustancias fueron 30 % menos probable lograr la CVi, que las mujeres que no usaron sustancias (N = 122; p < 0.10). Mujeres que comunicaron más con sus médicos fueron 1.4 veces más probable lograr la CVi, que mujeres que comunicaron menos con sus médicos. El apoyo social, el uso de sustancias, y las enfermedades mentales se diferan entre los géneros. Los médicos deben considerar esto para mejorar la salud de los afroamericános con el VIH.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Grants from the National Institutes of Health (R01 DA019413 and R01 NR14050-01). This research was also supported by the Johns Hopkins Center for AIDS Research (1P30AI094189).

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  1. Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, The Lighthouse, 2213 McElderry Street, 2nd Floor, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA

    Allysha C. Robinson & Amy R. Knowlton

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  1. Allysha C. Robinson
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Correspondence to Allysha C. Robinson.

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Robinson, A.C., Knowlton, A.R. Gender Differences in Psychosocial Factors Associated with HIV Viral Suppression Among African–American Injection Drug Users. AIDS Behav 20, 385–394 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-015-1131-x

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