The economic benefits of high CD4 counts among people living with HIV/AIDS in Zambia

N. Tirivayi*, J.R. Koethe

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Background The economic effects of poor immunologic recovery among HIV-infected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) in subSaharan Africa are not well understood. We examined the relationship between the CD4 counts of patients on long-term ART and employment outcomes in HIV-affected households in Lusaka, Zambia.Methods Administrative data and a household survey captured information on the clinical records, demographics and employment outcomes of the ART-treated adults and their adult family members (n = 311). Multivariable regression analyses were used to assess relationships between CD4 counts of ART-treated adults and household employment outcomes.Results Patients with a CD4 count of at least 350 cells/mu l were 22 percentage points more likely to be engaged in the labor force(P<0.05) and worked similar to 6 more days per month (P<0.05) and 9 more hours per week (P = 0.05) compared with patients with a CD4 count <350 cells/mu l. Non-patient adults in the HIV-affected household had significantly higher labor participation if the patient's CD4 count was >= 500 compared with <500 cells/mu l (P<0.05), but this was not significant for a CD4 >= 350 versus <350.Conclusion These findings suggest that interventions to improve or maintain robust immune recovery during ART may confer economic benefits for both HIV-infected individuals and HIV-affected households.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)704-711
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Public Health
Volume38
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2016

Keywords

  • ART
  • CD4 count
  • employment
  • household
  • HIV/AIDS
  • HIV-INFECTED ADULTS
  • ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY
  • FUNCTIONAL IMPAIRMENT
  • WESTERN KENYA
  • SOUTH-AFRICA
  • IMPACT
  • OUTCOMES
  • COST
  • HOUSEHOLDS
  • INITIATION

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