Community-Level Factors and HIV Health Among Older People Living With HIV (PLWH) in Alabama, United States: A Qualitative Analysis. (30th September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lee, Yookyong; Walton, Rick; Jackson, Lindsey; Batey, D. Scott
• Is Part Of: Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care. Volume 32:Number 5(2021)
• Page Start: 589
• Page End: 598
• Publication Date: 2021-09-30
• Subjects: aging -- community, community-based participatory research -- HIV; AIDS (Disease) -- Nursing -- Periodicals; AIDS (Disease) -- Treatment -- Periodicals; AIDS (Disease) -- Periodicals; HIV infections -- Nursing -- Periodicals; HIV infections -- Treatment -- Periodicals; HIV infections -- Periodicals; 616.97920231
• DOI: 10.1097/JNC.0000000000000214
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1055-3290

Abstract

Abstract: As the number of older people living with HIV (PLWH) is increasing, there is an urgent need for research on community-level factors to better understand the health care needs of this population. In-depth interview transcripts of 20 older PLWH who participated in a community-based participatory research study conducted in Alabama, in the United States, were analyzed through a phenomenological research approach. Results suggest that crime, lack of resources, and social isolation experienced at the community levels were found to be associated with the wellbeing of older PLWH. Moreover, community characteristics may confound older PLWH's comorbid conditions and resultant polypharmacy. An increased understanding of the impact of contextual factors on HIV health can inform more holistic individual- and community-level interventions aimed at addressing barriers to retention or re-engagement in HIV medical care and viral suppression among older PLWH.