Retention in HIV Care among Female Sex Workers in the Dominican Republic: Implications for Research, Policy and Programming

There are clear benefits of retention in HIV care, yet millions of people living with HIV are sub-optimally retained. This study described factors from Andersen's behavioral model that were associated with retention in HIV care among 268 female sex workers (FSWs) living with HIV in the Dominican Republic using two measures of retention: a 6-month measure of HIV clinic attendance and a measure that combined clinic attendance and missed visits. FSWs who ever attended HIV care reported high rates (92 %) of 6-month attendance, but 37 % reported missed visits. 

Using the combined retention measure, the odds of being retained in HIV care were higher among FSWs with more positive perceptions of HIV service providers and lower among women who reported recent alcohol consumption and self-stigmatizing beliefs related to sex work. 

These findings support the hypothesis that retention in HIV care may be best determined through a combined measure as missed visits are an important mechanism to identify in-care patients who require additional support.

Via:  http://goo.gl/K2zGVV Purchase full article at: http://goo.gl/I5KfI8

By: Zulliger R1, Maulsby C, Barrington C, Holtgrave D, Donastorg Y, Perez M, Kerrigan D.

1Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Room 904, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA

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