Risk factors for perceived unmet medical needs in human immunodeficiency virus-infected adults in Seoul, Korea

ABSTRACT

To identify the factors associated with perceived unmet medical needs in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected adults, we analyzed the results from a series of city-wide cross-sectional surveys of HIV-infected adults living in Seoul, Korea. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors related to unmet medical needs. Among the 775 subjects included in the study, 15.4% had perceived unmet medical needs. Significant factors included age group (35–49 years; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06–3.06), lower monthly income (aOR, 3.75 for the <$900/mo group and 2.44 for the $900–$1800/mo group; 95% CI, 1.68–8.35 and 1.18–5.04, respectively), beneficiaries of the National Medical Aid Program (aOR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.01–3.17), recent CD4 cell counts <500/µL (aOR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.01–2.33). Taken together, these data reveal strong associations of middle age and low socioeconomic status with perceived unmet medical needs among HIV-infected adults.

KEYWORDS:

• HIV
• AIDS
• unmet medical needs
• Seoul
• Korea

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the survey respondents and the staffs of the 25 Public Health Centers in Seoul for their assistance in the acquisition of data. The authors thank anonymous reviewers whose comments significantly improved this paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Division of Life and Health of Seoul Metropolitan Government.