RESUMEN
In April 2019, nine older women (age 50+) living with HIV in Palm Springs, California, participated in a 90-minute focus group to identify their major health issues, strengths, and HIV and aging-related health priorities. Using the rigorous and accelerated data reduction (RADaR) technique, we identified four major themes: (1) mental health, (2) HIV comorbidities, (3) social determinants of health, and (4) resiliencies. These results reinforce the need to conduct additional research focused on women aging with HIV, an understudied population that requires more effective, tailored interventions to promote better quality of life and healthy aging.
Asunto(s)
Envejecimiento/psicología , Infecciones por VIH/psicología , Salud Mental , Estigma Social , Anciano , California , Comorbilidad , Femenino , Grupos Focales , Infecciones por VIH/epidemiología , Prioridades en Salud , Envejecimiento Saludable , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Calidad de Vida , Resiliencia Psicológica , Determinantes Sociales de la Salud , Salud de la MujerRESUMEN
We assessed successful aging among older people living with HIV (PLWH) compared with older people without HIV. One hundred ten older men and women in Palm Springs, California completed a self-administered 28-question survey, which collected data on physiological and psychosocial factors related to successfully aging with HIV, including demographics, HIV status, sexual activity, health and well-being, experiences of stigma or discrimination, feelings of isolation, receipt of disability benefits, work and volunteer participation, and presence of comorbid infectious diseases, noninfectious diseases, and geriatric syndromes. Most participants were male (96.4%), non-Hispanic white (84.5%), college educated (61.7%), and ranged in age from 55 to 87 years (median = 64 years). Respondents with HIV were significantly older than those without HIV (p = .04). The overall prevalence of two or more comorbid conditions across the sample was 59.1%. PLWH were more likely to report depression (p = .008). PLWH were also significantly more likely to report having a current sex partner living with HIV (p < .001) and receiving disability benefits than people without HIV (41.9% vs. 6.3%). Among PLWH, there was a significant relationship between not working or volunteering and feelings of isolation (p = .005). For people without HIV, we found a significant relationship between feelings of isolation and not living with someone (p < .001), but there was no such relationship among PLWH-possibly reflecting the strength of the support network for PLWH in Palm Springs. Our findings suggest that older PLWH experience successful aging to a similar degree compared with their peers without HIV. However, depression and social isolation remain highly salient issues that threaten successful aging and with which PLWH must contend.