Socioeconomic Influences on the Transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection: The Hidden Risk

Abstract

Worldwide, and in pockets of poverty in the United States, there is growing evidence that poverty is a major contributor to the spread of human immunodeficiency virus infection. Specific socioeconomic forces contributing to the spread of the infection include the status of women, prostitution, drug use in poor populations, the role of prisons, economic factors that disrupt families, and cultural attitudes. A lack of awareness of or an unwillingness to address the social, cultural, and economic forces contributing to the transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus have hampered attempts to stem the epidemic. A "social prevention" strategy is called for in which socioeconomic influences on human immunodeficiency virus transmission can be ameliorated. Practicing physicians should be aware of these forces because they profoundly influence the effectiveness of patient education, prevention, and treatment.

Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the Brief HIV Knowledge Questionnaire

“…In prior research with the HIV-KQ-45 we found that community-dwelling married couples with college educations scored lower on the HIV-KQ-45 (M = 52%) than did lowincome urban women with high school educations (M = 72%; . However, because of the associations between poverty and HIV (Fournier & Carmichael, 1998), and between low literacy level and HIV (Kalichman, Benotsch, Suarez, Catz, & Miller, 2000), we believe that instruments assessing HIV knowledge in low-income and low-literacy populations are most needed, justifying our sampling strategy.…”

Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the Brief HIV Knowledge Questionnaire

“…In prior research with the HIV-KQ-45 we found that community-dwelling married couples with college educations scored lower on the HIV-KQ-45 (M = 52%) than did lowincome urban women with high school educations (M = 72%; . However, because of the associations between poverty and HIV (Fournier & Carmichael, 1998), and between low literacy level and HIV (Kalichman, Benotsch, Suarez, Catz, & Miller, 2000), we believe that instruments assessing HIV knowledge in low-income and low-literacy populations are most needed, justifying our sampling strategy.…”

Understanding Sociocultural and Psychological Factors Affecting Transgender People of Color in San Francisco

“…Lack of access to education and wage employment results in reliance on public assistance as well as alternative, and sometimes illegal, forms of income (e.g., sex work, selling drugs) for economic support. Early onset of sexual activity, homelessness, exposure to violence at home, substance use, and sexual relations with HIVinfected clients are correlated both with poverty and increased risk for HIV infection (Fournier & Carmichael, 1998).…”

HIV Infection and AIDS in the Deep South

“…Furthermore, poverty has been associated with drug use and lack of drug treatment, which in turn may lead to transmission of HIV/AIDS. 18,22 There is increasing evidence that the HIV/AIDS epidemic is currently concentrated in low-income communities, where African Americans are disproportionately represented. 18 This is of particular concern in the Deep South, where the percentage of the population that is African American is the highest in the country.…”

Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the Brief HIV Knowledge Questionnaire

“…In prior research with the HIV-KQ-45 we found that community-dwelling married couples with college educations scored lower on the HIV-KQ-45 (M = 52%) than did lowincome urban women with high school educations (M = 72%; . However, because of the associations between poverty and HIV (Fournier & Carmichael, 1998), and between low literacy level and HIV (Kalichman, Benotsch, Suarez, Catz, & Miller, 2000), we believe that instruments assessing HIV knowledge in low-income and low-literacy populations are most needed, justifying our sampling strategy.…”

Understanding Sociocultural and Psychological Factors Affecting Transgender People of Color in San Francisco

“…Lack of access to education and wage employment results in reliance on public assistance as well as alternative, and sometimes illegal, forms of income (e.g., sex work, selling drugs) for economic support. Early onset of sexual activity, homelessness, exposure to violence at home, substance use, and sexual relations with HIVinfected clients are correlated both with poverty and increased risk for HIV infection (Fournier & Carmichael, 1998).…”

HIV Infection and AIDS in the Deep South

“…Furthermore, poverty has been associated with drug use and lack of drug treatment, which in turn may lead to transmission of HIV/AIDS. 18,22 There is increasing evidence that the HIV/AIDS epidemic is currently concentrated in low-income communities, where African Americans are disproportionately represented. 18 This is of particular concern in the Deep South, where the percentage of the population that is African American is the highest in the country.…”

Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the Brief HIV Knowledge Questionnaire

“…In prior research with the HIV-KQ-45 we found that community-dwelling married couples with college educations scored lower on the HIV-KQ-45 (M = 52%) than did lowincome urban women with high school educations (M = 72%; . However, because of the associations between poverty and HIV (Fournier & Carmichael, 1998), and between low literacy level and HIV (Kalichman, Benotsch, Suarez, Catz, & Miller, 2000), we believe that instruments assessing HIV knowledge in low-income and low-literacy populations are most needed, justifying our sampling strategy.…”

Understanding Sociocultural and Psychological Factors Affecting Transgender People of Color in San Francisco

“…Lack of access to education and wage employment results in reliance on public assistance as well as alternative, and sometimes illegal, forms of income (e.g., sex work, selling drugs) for economic support. Early onset of sexual activity, homelessness, exposure to violence at home, substance use, and sexual relations with HIVinfected clients are correlated both with poverty and increased risk for HIV infection (Fournier & Carmichael, 1998).…”

HIV Infection and AIDS in the Deep South

“…Furthermore, poverty has been associated with drug use and lack of drug treatment, which in turn may lead to transmission of HIV/AIDS. 18,22 There is increasing evidence that the HIV/AIDS epidemic is currently concentrated in low-income communities, where African Americans are disproportionately represented. 18 This is of particular concern in the Deep South, where the percentage of the population that is African American is the highest in the country.…”