To inform the development of HIV care strategies for older women with HIV infection, an understudied group, we compared the psychosocial, behavioral, and clinical characteristics of HIV-positive women aged ≥50 (older women) with those aged 18–49 (younger women).
Methods:
We examined factors among HIV-positive women in care using data from the 2009 through 2013 cycles of a nationally representative sample of HIV-positive adults in care (Medical Monitoring Project). We compared psychosocial, clinical, and behavioral factors among women aged ≥50 years at interview versus those aged <50 years. We calculated weighted frequency estimates and performed logistic regression to compute adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the comparison of characteristics among women aged ≥50 versus <50 years.
Results:
Of 22,145 participants, 6186 were women; 40.7% (CI 39.1–42.3) were ≥50 years, and 32.7% of older women reported being sexually active. Compared with women <50 years, women aged ≥50 years were more likely to be dose adherent (aPR = 1.19; CI 1.07–1.33), prescribed antiretroviral therapy and have sustained viral load suppression (aPR = 1.03; CI 1.00–1.18), and were less likely to report any depression (aPR = 0.92; CI 0.86–0.99), to report condomless sex with a negative or unknown partner if sexually active (aPR = 0.56; CI 0.48–0.67), and to have received HIV/sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention counseling from a healthcare provider (aPR = 0.82; CI 0.76–0.88).
Conclusions:
These data suggest that older women in HIV care have more favorable outcomes in some clinical areas, but may warrant increased HIV/STI prevention counseling from their care providers, especially if sexually active.
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