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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Angela Aidala, PhD1, Natasha Davis, MSW1, David Abramson, MPH2, and Gunjeong Lee, MPhil1. (1) Mailman School of Public Health, Dept of Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University, 722 W. 168 Street, New York, NY 10032, (212) 305-1579, aaa1@columbia.edu, (2) Mailman School of Public Health, Dept. of Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University, 722 W. 168 Street, New York, NY 10032
The goal of the present study is to investigate the role of housing in facilitating entry into medical care, retention in quality care over time, access to treatment, and treatment adherence among individuals living with HIV/AIDS. Data for the analysis are provided by the Community Health Advisory & Information Network (CHAIN) Project, a cohort study of a representative sample (n=968) of PLWHs in New York City interviewed every 6 - 12 months. The data from seven waves of CHAIN study interviews from 1995 to 2000 show that there is a significant relationship between homelessness/unstable housing and remaining outside of or marginal to HIV care. Providing housing services has consequences for increasing access and engagement with care: People with housing needs who get any kind of practical housing assistance are almost four times more likely to enter into medical care than those who do not get housing assistance, and they are twice as likely to enter into and continue in care that meets current clinical standards for treatment of HIV/AIDS. Controlling for a wide range of individual client characteristics as well as service system variables, living in or being at risk for unstable housing is one of the most important factors limiting use of combination therapy and, among individuals who are on combination antiretroviral medication regimens, the homeless have the high rates of non-adherence. Different types of housing assistance have different implications for treatment access and adherence. Recommendations for models of care are discussed.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Homelessness
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.