Labour participation of people living with HIV/AIDS in Spain

Abstract

Objective: This study explores the relationship between the employment status of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive individuals and socioeconomic and health characteristics in Spain.

Methods: Data were obtained from four waves of the HIV/AIDS Hospital Survey from the period 2001 to 2004. The sample was composed of 3376 individuals between 16 and 64 years. Assessment of employment participation was performed using a probit model on a wide range of socioeconomic and lifestyle-related variables.

Results: The main variables explaining the probability of participation in the labour market were age, gender, education level, CD4 cell count, health status, time since HIV diagnosis, psychological impact of contracting the disease or its progression, the most likely means of transmission and intravenous drug use (IDU). The significance of each of these variables differs for men and women as well as for injecting drug users (IDUs) and non-IDUs.

Conclusions: The employment status of HIV-positive individuals is directly related to their health status and other personal characteristics. Policies to improve the well-being of HIV-positive individuals should not be limited to any one sector as their needs require strategies with a multidisciplinary approach.