AIDS Care - Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV
Volume 23, Issue 4, 2011, Pages 486-493

Use of HIV primary care by HIV-positive Haitian immigrants in Miami, Florida (Article)

Saint-Jean G.* , Metsch L. , Gomez-Marin O. , Pierre C. , Jeanty Y. , Rodriguez A. , Malow R.
  • a Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
  • b Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
  • c Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
  • d Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
  • e Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
  • f Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
  • g Stempel School of Public Health, College of Health and Urban Affairs, Florida International University, North Miami, FL, United States

Abstract

Little is known about the use of HIV primary care among Haitian immigrants in the USA. The present study utilizes data from a survey of HIV-positive Haitians recruited from an HIV primary care clinic in Miami, Florida, to examine barriers and facilitators of regular use of HIV care by this population. Selection of measures was guided by the Andersen Model of Health Services Utilization for Vulnerable Populations. The dependent variable, regular use of HIV primary care, was operationalized as completion of four or more HIV primary care visits during the previous 12 months. Of the 96 participants surveyed, approximately three-fourths did not graduate from high school and reported an annual income of up to $5000. Seventy-nine percent of participants completed four or more visits in the past year. On univariate as well as multivariate analyses, participants without formal education or those with high psychological distress were significantly less likely to have used HIV primary care regularly than those who attended school or who were less distressed, respectively. The findings emphasize the need for health care practitioners to pay close attention to the education level and the mental health status of their Haitian HIV patients. The data also suggest that once these individuals are linked to care and offered assistance with their daily challenges, they are very likely to stay connected to care and to take their antiretroviral medicines. © 2011 Taylor & Francis.

Author Keywords

Haitians Access to care HIV-positive immigrants

Index Keywords

immigrant HIV Infections primary medical care Human immunodeficiency virus infection health survey health care personnel human middle aged health service priority journal health status Aged HIV Seropositivity Health Services Needs and Demand Haiti United States Florida school child Humans Adolescent male preschool child Socioeconomic Factors Infant female medical education Article major clinical study adult distress syndrome Health Services Accessibility primary health care Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-79952506842&doi=10.1080%2f09540121.2010.516339&partnerID=40&md5=20113d96c4272b958f9115699e871d67
DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2010.516339
ISSN: 09540121
Cited by: 11
Original Language: English