title: Informal Caregiver Characteristics Associated with Viral Load Suppression Among Current or Former Injection Drug Users Living with HIV/AIDS.
abstract: Few studies have examined the association between having an informal (unpaid) caregiver and viral suppression among persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) who are on antiretroviral therapy. The current study examined relationships between caregivers' individual and social network characteristics and care recipient viral suppression. Baseline data were from the BEACON study caregivers and their HIV seropositive former or current drug using care recipients, of whom 89 % were African American (N = 258 dyads). Using adjusted logistic regression, care recipient's undetectable viral load was positively associated with caregiver's limited physical functioning and negatively associated with caregivers having few family members to turn to for problem solving, a greater number of current drug users in their network, and poorer perceptions of the care recipient's mental health. Results further understandings of interpersonal relationship factors important to PLHIV's health outcomes, and the need for caregiving relationship-focused intervention to promote viral suppression among PLHIV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Behavior, and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2213 McElderry Street, 2nd Floor, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA. mmitch32@jhu.edu.
authors.forename: Mary M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Behavior, and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2213 McElderry Street, 2nd Floor, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
authors.forename: Allysha C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Behavior, and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2213 McElderry Street, 2nd Floor, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
authors.forename: Trang Q
authors.initials: TQ
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Behavior, and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2213 McElderry Street, 2nd Floor, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
authors.forename: Amy R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Knowlton
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D055030:Drug Users; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load / Q000187:drug effects*
keywords: Care recipients; HIV/AIDS; Informal caregivers; Social networks; Viral load and suppression