Gender, working status, and access to HIV care among people who are HIV positive in Eswatini

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study investigated the relationship between gender, working status, and access to HIV care and explored whether working status mediates the relationship between gender and access to HIV care. Nationally representative data from the 2016 Swaziland HIV Incidence Measurement Survey used. Sample comprised of 2,826 adults positive for HIV. Both 30-day and 1-year employment records were used to define working status. Access to HIV care was defined using data on both HIV viral load suppression and current antiretroviral therapy (ART) enrollment. People who worked in the past 12 months had a significantly lower likelihood of current ART enrollment (odds ratio [OR] 0.75; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.62–0.91) and viral load suppression (OR 0.78; 95% CI: 0.67–0.92). Working in the past 30 days was also significantly associated with current ART enrollment (OR 0.71; 95% CI: 0.59–0.85) and viral load suppression (OR 0.78; 95% CI: 0.66–0.93). The negative influence of working status on access to HIV care (current ART enrollment and viral load suppression) was stronger in men than in women. Working status partially explained the relationship between gender (male) and access to HIV care. Time constraints are a likely explanation for this.