Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Employment status is a key social determinant of health, and many populations in the United States that are impacted by HIV also have unequal access to education and employment opportunities which contributes to HIV-related disparities. With improved health outcomes associated with advancements in HIV treatment, research suggests that more people living with HIV want to work.
Men living with HIV were less likely to be employed full-time compared to men not living with HIV controlling for education and social contextual factors OR 0. HIV will most likely have important implications for employment patterns and trajectories of BMSM over the life course. Additional research is needed among BMSM living with HIV to understand work histories and experiences, facilitating factors, barriers to work, and the impact of various work experiences on the health and wellbeing.
Research suggests that racial disparities in the prevalence of HIV infection among men who have sex with men are at least partially driven by background HIV prevalence, incidence of STIs, unrecognized HIV infection, and viral load Maulsby et al. Social structural factors external to the individual such as stigma, discrimination, patient-provider dynamics, incarceration, unemployment and poverty also play a significant role Maulsby et al.
Poverty and employment status have long been recognized as key social determinants of health. Employment works through a variety of mechanisms including increased access to material resources, reduced chronic stress, and increased political power to improve health, social standing, and health equity Tsui, The relationship between HIV and employment is likely bi-directional.
With the advent of effective combination antiretroviral therapy, HIV is now considered a chronic disease that is not inconsistent with employment. Hence, it is important to understand the relationship between HIV, employment, and wellbeing. BESURE is a surveillance study that measures HIV prevalence, access to health services, health-related behaviors and the social contextual factors known to influence health.
