Effect of Social Determinants of Health on Uncontrolled Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection Among Persons With HIV in San Francisco, California

Abstract

Abstract Background In 2010–2014, the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) established programs to rapidly link people with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH) to care and offer antiretroviral therapy (ART) at human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) diagnosis. Such programs reduced the number of PWH out of care or with detectable HIV viral load (ie, uncontrolled HIV infection). We investigated the role of social determinants of health (SDH) on uncontrolled HIV. Methods Cross-sectional data from adult PWH diagnosed and reported to the SFDPH as of December 31, 2019, prescribed ART, and with confirmed San Francisco residency during 2017–2019 were analyzed in conjunction with SDH metrics derived from the American Community Survey 2015–2019. We focused on 5 census tract-level SDH metrics: percentage of residents below the federal poverty level, with less than a high school diploma, or uninsured; median household income; and Gini index. We compared uncontrolled HIV prevalence odds ratios (PORs) across quartiles of each metric independently using logistic regression models. Results The analysis included 7486 PWH (6889 controlled HIV; 597 uncontrolled HIV). Unadjusted PORs of uncontrolled HIV rose with increasingly marginalized quartiles, compared to the least marginalized quartile for each metric. Adjusting for demographics and transmission category, the POR for uncontrolled HIV for PWH in the most marginalized quartile remained significant across metrics for poverty (POR = 2.0; confidence interval [CI] = 1.5–2.6), education (POR = 2.4; CI = 1.8–3.2), insurance (POR = 1.8; CI = 1.3–2.5), income (POR = 1.8; CI = 1.4–2.3), and income inequality (POR = 1.5; CI = 1.1–2.0). Conclusions Beyond demographics, SDH differentially affected the ability of PWH to control HIV. Despite established care programs, PWH experiencing socioeconomic marginalization require additional support to achieve health outcome goals.