Disease awareness and healthcare utilization in rural South Africa: a comparative analysis of HIV and diabetes in the HAALSI cohort.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Studies from rural South Africa indicate that people living with HIV (PLHIV) may have better health outcomes than those without, potentially due to the frequent healthcare visits necessitated by infection. Here, we examined the association between HIV status and healthcare utilization, using diabetes as an illustrative comparator of another high-burden, healthcare-intensive disease.

Methods

Our exposure of interest was awareness of positive disease status for both HIV and diabetes. We identified 742 individuals who were HIV-positive and aware of their status and 305 who had diabetes and were aware of their status. HIV-positive status was further grouped by viral suppression. For each disease, we estimated the association with (1) other comorbid, chronic conditions

SUBMITTER: Beidelman ET 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10634006 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature