Transportation Barriers and Health-Related Quality of Life in a Sample of Middle-Aged and Older Adults Living with HIV in the Deep South

Abstract

Access to reliable transportation is a social determinant of health imperative for disease management for those aging with HIV/AIDS. To what degree transportation barriers are associated with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in middle-aged and older people living with HIV (PWH) in the Deep South region of the United States is presently unknown. PWH (n = 261, age range = 39 to 73 years old, 80.1% African American, 64.4% male) were recruited from an academic medical center in the Deep South. Variables included sociodemographics, HIV characteristics, depressive symptoms, HRQOL, and perceived transportation barriers. Spearman rho correlations and linear regressions accounting for covariates were conducted. After accounting for covariates, greater perceived transportation barriers were associated with worse health perceptions, pain, social functioning, health distress, and health transitions. Access to reliable transportation is a key factor in improving health for PWH. Considerations for healthcare and traffic safety are discussed.