Citation

Carter A, Roth EA, Ding E, Milloy MJ, Kestler M, Jabbari S, Webster K, de Pokomandy A, Loutfy M, Kaida A. AIDS Behav. 2018; 22(3): 971-985.

Affiliation

Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Blusson Hall Room 10522, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada. kangela@sfu.ca.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s10461-017-1863-x

PMID

28733919

Abstract

We used latent class analysis to identify substance use patterns for 1363 women living with HIV in Canada and assessed associations with socio-economic marginalization, violence, and sub-optimal adherence to combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). A six-class model was identified consisting of: abstainers (26.3%), Tobacco Users (8.81%), Alcohol Users (31.9%), 'Socially Acceptable' Poly-substance Users (13.9%), Illicit Poly-substance Users (9.81%) and Illicit Poly-substance Users of All Types (9.27%). Multinomial logistic regression showed that women experiencing recent violence had significantly higher odds of membership in all substance use latent classes, relative to Abstainers, while those reporting sub-optimal cART adherence had higher odds of being members of the poly-substance use classes only. Factors significantly associated with Illicit Poly-substance Users of All Types were sexual minority status, lower income, and lower resiliency.

FINDINGS underline a need for increased social and structural supports for women who use substances to support them in leading safe and healthy lives with HIV.

Language: en

Keywords

Antiretroviral adherence; HIV/AIDS; Substance use; Violence; Women