Association between housing and risk behaviors among homeless and unstably housed African American women living with HIV/AIDS

The HIV/AIDS pandemic continues to be a major health crisis facing the African American community. Persons of minority races and ethnicities are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS, and 2009 estimates report that African Americans, who make up approximately 14% of the U.S. population, account for approximately half of the diagnosed HIV/AIDS cases. The numerous factors that may contribute to high rates of HIV infection include being homeless or unstably housed. Guided by the social ecological model, this study examined the relationships between time in stable housing and social support for African American women living with HIV/AIDS and their condom use, alcohol and drug use, and medication adherence. Data were collected from the CDC/HUD Housing and Health Study Questionnaire. Significant relationships were found between time in stable housing and social support and participants' condom use, alcohol and drug use, and medication adherence through multiple linear regression and Pearson correlation analyses. Several findings were inconsistent with the reported literature. In some instances, HIV+ women who were stably housed were more likely to use marijuana and cocaine, and HIV+ women with social support were more likely to use marijuana. The conflict in the findings supports the need for more expansive HIV/AIDS research efforts surrounding the provision of stable housing and social support systems. These findings may inform the efforts of HIV/AIDS service providers and funding agencies in their work with homeless and unstably housed African American women living with HIV/AIDS.