title: Community mapping of sex work criminalization and violence: impacts on HIV treatment interruptions among marginalized women living with HIV in Vancouver, Canada.
abstract: Despite the high HIV burden faced by sex workers, data on access and retention in antiretroviral therapy (ART) are limited. Using an innovative spatial epidemiological approach, we explored how the social geography of sex work criminalization and violence impacts HIV treatment interruptions among sex workers living with HIV in Vancouver over a 3.5-year period. Drawing upon data from a community-based cohort (AESHA, 2010-2013) and linked external administrative data on ART dispensation, GIS mapping and multivariable logistic regression with generalized estimating equations to prospectively examine the effects of spatial criminalization and violence near women's places of residence on 2-day ART interruptions. Analyses were restricted to 66 ART-exposed women who contributed 208 observations and 83 ART interruption events. In adjusted multivariable models, heightened density of displacement due to policing independently correlated with HIV treatment interruptions (AOR: 1.02, 95%CI: 1.00-1.04); density of legal restrictions (AOR: 1.30, 95%CI: 0.97-1.76) and a combined measure of criminalization/violence (AOR: 1.00, 95%CI: 1.00-1.01) were marginally correlated. The social geography of sex work criminalization may undermine access to essential medicines, including HIV treatment. Interventions to promote 'enabling environments' (e.g. peer-led models, safer living/working spaces) should be explored, alongside policy reforms to ensure uninterrupted treatment access.
authors.affiliation: 1 Gender and Sexual Health Initiative, British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, Canada.|2 Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada.
authors.forename: Shira M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Goldenberg
authors.affiliation: 1 Gender and Sexual Health Initiative, British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Deering
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Geography, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada.
authors.forename: Ofer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Amram
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Geography, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada.|4 British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guillemi
authors.affiliation: 1 Gender and Sexual Health Initiative, British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Geography, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada.|5 Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Montaner
authors.affiliation: 1 Gender and Sexual Health Initiative, British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, Canada.|5 Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shannon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003415:Crime / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D055118:Medication Adherence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D011477:Sex Work; D060386:Sex Workers / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D062206:Spatial Analysis; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Antiretroviral therapy; HIV; criminalization; sex work; spatial mapping; structural determinants