Measuring Unmet Needs among Persons Living with HIV at Different Stages of the Care Continuum

A qualitative assessment of retention in HIV care among adolescents and young adults (AYA) living with HIV in New York City

Retention in HIV care is a critical precursor to ending the epidemic yet remains suboptimal in the United States. Gaining an understanding of the challenges faced by adolescents and young adults (AYA) living with HIV is essential to improving retention in HIV care. This study explored the barriers and facilitators to retention in care among Black and Hispanic AYA living with HIV. Audio-recorded semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 AYA living with HIV ages 16-29 years in New York City. Our methods entailed an inductive content analysis to explore key concepts, reconcile codes, and identify a theme, categories, and subcategories. Bronfenbrenner's socioecological model evolved as an organizing framework around barriers and facilitators to retention in care at the individual, interpersonal, healthcare system, and structural level. Data analysis yielded one overarching theme-the influence of psychosocial factors on retention in HIV care. Psychological struggles, powerlessness, clinic-level characteristics, and socioeconomic struggles were barriers reported by participants. Self-responsibility, social support, patient-friendly healthcare services, and socioeconomic resources emerged as facilitators. Retention in HIV care among AYA living with HIV is a multifaceted and complex phenomenon that involves multiple systems. Strengthening patients, healthcare system, and community partnerships can help address some of the HIV-related health disparities.

Loneliness Among Black/African American Adults Living with HIV: Sociodemographic and Psychosocial Correlates and Implications for Adherence

Loneliness, an emerging public health problem, is higher among people living with HIV and is associated with negative health outcomes. Black/African Americans have a high burden of HIV, and little is known about the characteristics of loneliness among Black adults living with HIV; therefore, this study sought to understand the sociodemographic and psychosocial correlates of Black adults living with HIV who are lonely and the implications of loneliness for their health outcomes. A sample of 304 Black adults living with HIV (73.8% sexual minority men) in Los Angeles County, CA, USA, completed the survey items assessing sociodemographic and psychosocial characteristics, social determinants of health, health outcomes, and loneliness. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence was assessed electronically with the medication event monitoring system. Bivariate linear regressions analysis showed higher loneliness scores among those with higher levels of internalized HIV stigma, depression, unmet needs, and discrimination related to HIV serostatus, race, and sexual orientation. In addition, participants who were married or living with a partner, had stable housing, and reported receiving more social support had lower levels of loneliness. In multivariable regression models controlling for correlates of loneliness, loneliness was found to be a significant independent predictor of worse general physical health, worse general mental health, and greater depression. Loneliness was marginally associated with lower ART adherence. Findings suggest that Black adults living with HIV, who experience multiple intersectional stigmas, require targeted interventions and resources.

The Association of Mental Health and Substance Use With Retention in HIV Care Among Black Women in Washington, District of Columbia

BACKGROUND

Black women with HIV are impacted by mental health and substance use disorders alongside barriers to care. The impact of these disorders on retention in care, a crucial step of the HIV care continuum, has not been well-studied. We examined the association between these disorders and retention in care over a 2-year period.

METHODS

Data from January 1, 2011, to June 30, 2019, were obtained from the DC Cohort, an observational HIV study in Washington, District of Columbia. We examined the associations between mental health (i.e., mood-related or trauma-related) or substance use disorders, separately, on not being retained in HIV care over a 2-year interval post-enrollment among non-Hispanic Black women with HIV. Multivariate logistic regression with adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for sociodemographic and clinical variables was used to quantify the association of 1) having a confirmed mental health or substance use disorder and 2) not being retained in care.

RESULTS

Among the 2,181 women in this analysis, 690 (31.64%) were not retained in care. The prevalence of a mood-related disorder (39.84%) was higher compared with a substance use (16.19%) or trauma-related disorder (7.75%). Age per a 10-year increase (aOR 0.87; confidence interval [CI] 0.80, 0.94) and a mood-related disorder diagnosis (aOR 0.72; CI: 0.59, 0.88) were inversely associated with not being retained in care.

CONCLUSION

Mood-related disorders were prevalent among Black women with HIV in Washington, District of Columbia, but were not associated with worse retention in care. Future studies should examine key facilitators for Black women with HIV and coexisting mood-related disorders and how they impact retention in care.

Unmet Needs for HIV Ancillary Services Among Persons With Diagnosed HIV Aged 55 years and Older

BACKGROUND

Approximately 2 in 5 persons with HIV (PWH) in the United States are aged 55 years or older. HIV ancillary services, such as case management and transportation services, can help older PWH remain engaged in care. We used data from the Medical Monitoring Project (MMP) to describe the prevalence of unmet needs for ancillary services among persons with diagnosed HIV aged 55 years or older.

SETTING

MMP is an annual cross-sectional study that reports representative estimates on adults with diagnosed HIV in the United States.

METHODS

We used MMP data collected during June 2019-May 2021 to calculate weighted percentages of cisgender men and cisgender women with HIV aged 55 years or older with unmet needs for ancillary services, overall and by selected characteristics (N = 3200). Unmet need was defined as needing but not receiving a given ancillary service. We assessed differences between groups using prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals with predicted marginal means.

RESULTS

Overall, 37.7% of cisgender men and women with HIV aged 55 years or older had ≥1 unmet need for ancillary services. Overall, 16.6% had ≥1 unmet need for HIV support services, 26.9% for non-HIV medical services, and 26.7% for subsistence services. There were no statistically significant differences in unmet needs for services by gender. The prevalence of ≥1 unmet need was higher among non-White persons (PR range: 1.35-1.63), persons who experienced housing instability (PR = 1.70), and those without any private insurance (PR range: 1.49-1.83).

CONCLUSION

A large percentage of older PWH have unmet needs for ancillary services. Given the challenges that older PWH face related to the interaction of HIV and aging-associated factors, deficits in the provision of ancillary services should be addressed.

Assessing the Impact of Social Determinants of Health on HIV Care Engagement in the Southern United States: A Cross-Sectional Study

Recent studies have shown social determinants of health (SDOH) to impact HIV care engagement. This cross-sectional study (Oct 20-Apr 21) assessed the impact of a range of SDOH on HIV care engagement using data from HIV Care Connect, a consortium of three HIV care facility-led programs (Alabama, Florida, Mississippi). The exposures were captured using the PRAPARE (Protocol for Responding to and Assessing Patient Assets, Risks, and Experiences) scale. The outcome was captured using the Index of Engagement in HIV Care scale. Participants (n  =  132) were predominantly non-White (87%) and male (52%) with a median age of 41 years. Multivariable logistic regression adjusted for various sociodemographics showed lower HIV care engagement to be associated with being uninsured/publicly insured, having 1-3 unmet needs, socially integrating ≤five times/week, and having stable housing. Factors such as unmet needs, un-/underinsurance, and social integration may be addressed by healthcare and community organizations.

"And if my goal is never to leave Casey House?": The significance of place attachment for patients at a specialty HIV hospital in Toronto, Canada

The current healthcare context prioritizes shorter hospital stays and fewer readmissions. However, these measures may not fully capture care experiences for people living with HIV, especially those experiencing medical, psychosocial, and economic complexity. As part of a larger study, we conducted seven focus groups with people living with HIV (n = 52), who were current/former patients at a Toronto-based specialty hospital, examining their desires/needs for hospital programs. Using a novel place attachment lens, we conducted a thematic analysis focusing on the emotional bond between person (patient) and place (hospital). Our findings show that participants wanted an ongoing connection to hospital to fulfill their need(s) for control, security, restoration and belonging. Indeed, continual attachment to hospital may be beneficial for patients with complex care needs. Our research has implications for care engagement and retention frameworks.

ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL NEEDS WITH UNCONTROLLED VIREMIA IN PEOPLE WITH HIV

Using a tool integrated into the electronic health record, we determined prevalence of 10 social needs among 377 people with HIV (PWH) and 27,833 patients without HIV receiving care in the Montefiore Health System. PWH (median age 53) were 55% women, 41% Black, 44% Hispanic. 33% of PWH reported at least one social need vs. 18% among patients without HIV, with healthcare transportation and housing needs significantly higher among PWH in adjusted analyses. PWH reporting transportation needs were 27% less likely to be virologically suppressed (< 200 copies/mL, adjusted prevalence ratio 0.73, 95% CI 0.55-0.96) compared with PWH without transportation needs.