Special Issue: Examining the Impacts of Social Determinants on HIV Health and Prevention

Publication Date

12-2023

Description

Assessing the impact of social determinants of health (SDoH) has become an important part of the holistic view of an individual’s health status. The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined social determinants of health as “the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age. These circumstances are shaped by the distribution of money, power and resources at global, national and local levels” [1]. The WHO describes the HIV pandemic as a “pandemic driven by inequalities” [2]. In 2016, the General Assembly called for 90% of people living with HIV (PLHIV) to know their status, 90% to be accessing antiretroviral therapy, and 90% to be virally suppressed [3]. The barriers to accessing care related to SDoH include finances, unemployment, physical activity, and health literacy [4,5]. This Special Issue brings together many leading scholars, including members of the National Working Positive Coalition’s Research Working Group, to examine key social determinants of HIV health and prevention. Addressing these SDoH is essential for improving overall wellbeing and health outcomes for PLHIV. A prominent theme throughout many of the articles is the way in which economic factors impact HIV health and prevention. Finances can be a substantial barrier to remaining in care and being virally suppressed [6]. In a 2017 study, Wohl et al. examined patients receiving AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs), which are intended to provide medications at no cost or low cost. The study found that 21% of ADAP recipients failed to maintain ARV medication due to lapses in coverage or cost....

Journal

Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Volume

21

Issue

1

Department

Mathematics

Comments

Editorial Introduction to a special edition of Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

DOI

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21010030

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