HELP-SEEKING BEHAVIOR FOR HIV-RELATED SOCIAL SERVICES AMONG THE URBAN POOR

Abstract

This article examines the factors affecting the help-seeking behavior for HIV-related social services among a sample of HIV+ urban poor individuals. In particular, the article examines how financial transfers from friends and family affect the decision to seek HIV social services from public and community organizations. The effect of transfers on the help-seeking behavior is examined while controlling for sociodemographic factors, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) status, and HIV-transmission mode. The determinants of help-seeking behavior were estimated by conducting nine logistic regressions on a sample of 501 HIV+ individuals. The results showed that financial transfers from friends and family had a negative effect on individual’s help-seeking behavior for social HIV-services, especially for supportive services. The results also showed that sociodemographic factors and HIV-transmission mode were significant determinants in the help-seeking behavior for HIV-services. One of the central issues surrounding public health policy is how to meet the increasing demand for social services from individuals living with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and with the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Diagnosis of HIV and AIDS makes many individuals more *Support for this research was provided by grant #DA11414 to the collaborating investigators from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.