Primary Care Use among HIV Positive Inpatients at an Inner City Public Hospital: The Impact of Crack Cocaine Use

• Main Authors: Toye H. Brewer (Author), Lisa R. Metsch (Author), Marsha Mullings (Author), Gabriel Cardenas (Author), Margaret Pereyra (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: University of North Florida, 2009-04-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

We studied factors associated with HIV care utilization in symptomatic HIV-positive crack-using and non-using patients at a public hospital in Miami, Florida. A bedside survey conducted with 89 HIV-positive crack-users and 93 HIV-positive non-users examined health care knowledge, perceived health status, drug use, and HIV care patterns. A multi-nominal model was utilized to calculate the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of three levels of care: currently receiving care (having seen an HIV provider in the past 4 months), having dropped out of care (having seen an HIV provider at least once but not in the past 4 months), and never having seen an HIV provider. Crack use and homelessness were associated with having dropped out of care. Better knowledge of HIV, living with HIV for a longer time, and being employed were associated with currently being in care. Attention to socioeconomic factors and substance abuse rehabilitation is needed to improve treatment outcomes.

Item Description

2643-6248