title: Socioeconomic position and HIV risk-relevant behavior among lower-income heterosexuals in San Francisco.
abstract: We assess whether there is evidence of an association between socioeconomic position (SEP) and HIV risk-relevant behavior among lower income heterosexual men and women in San Francisco. Respondents residing in low income areas with high heterosexual AIDS case burden in San Francisco were recruited through long-chain referral in 2006-2007. Risk measures included unprotected vaginal intercourse, concurrency and exchange sex. SEP was defined as household annual income, per capita income, and employment. Analyses utilized mixed and fixed effects models. A total of 164 men and 286 women were included in the study. SEP was only significant in the case of exchange sex among men: men reporting annual income greater than $30,000 had significantly lower odds of exchange sex relative to other men. Evaluating the connection between economic status and HIV requires additional studies covering diverse populations. Future studies should focus on community economic context as well as individual SEP.
authors.affiliation: HIV Research Section, San Francisco Department of Public Health, 25 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102-6033, USA. michael.arnold@sfdph.org
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.forename: H Fisher
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Raymond
authors.forename: H Raymond
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: Willi
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: McFarland
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D020010:Heterosexuality; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D011204:Poverty Areas; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012495:San Francisco; D012747:Sexual Partners; D047568:Unsafe Sex; D055815:Young Adult