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

Authors

• Toye H. Brewer
• Lisa R. Metsch
• Marsha Mullings
• Gabriel Cardenas
• Margaret Pereyra

Publication Date

April 2009

Abstract

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.

Recommended Citation

Brewer, Toye H.; Metsch, Lisa R.; Mullings, Marsha; Cardenas, Gabriel; and Pereyra, Margaret (2009) "Primary Care Use among HIV Positive Inpatients at an Inner City Public Hospital: The Impact of Crack Cocaine Use," Florida Public Health Review: Vol. 6, Article 7.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/fphr/vol6/iss1/7