Submission ID 117125
| Issue/Objective | Dermatological conditions are estimated to affect 1.8 billion people at any time. In tropical and resource-poor settings, skin infections, which can be bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic, are the commonest cause of disease. Among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in these environments, the risk of skin infections is heightened due to their weakened immune system, making them more susceptible to opportunistic infection. A combination of these factors could have compounding effects on PLHIV; however, fewer studies have examined how housing insecurity influences skin infections and diseases among PLHIV. Therefore, this study examines the impact of housing insecurity on skin infections. |
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| Methodology/Approach | Data for this study were drawn from the Resource Insecurity, Health and Sustainable Livelihoods Study focused on PLHIV in Kenya (N=1,132). Data collected included measures of housing insecurity, multiple dermatological conditions (skin infections, Itchy skin, skin sores in the last month), environmental risk factors and sociodemographic factors. Following descriptive and bivariate analysis, logistic regression using the complementary log-log link function assessed the effect of housing insecurity on each skin condition in a multivariable model. The gender of the household head was used to stratify the models. |
| Results | Of the 1,132 PLHIV, 16.2% reported having skin infections, 16.3% experienced itchy skin, and 9.4% experienced skin sores in the last month. At the bivariate level, housing insecurity increased the odds of experiencing each skin condition. Adjusting for covariates, including vector infestation and sociodemographic factors, housing insecurity was a significant predictor of Itchy skin (OR:1.43, 95%CI: 1.30, 1.59) and skin sores (OR:1.33, 95%CI: 1.15, 1.52). Mosquito infestation fully mediated the effect of housing insecurity on skin infections (OR: 1.81, 95%CI: 1.07, 3.03). Across all three models, rodent and mosquito infestations increased the log odds of all three dermatological conditions. The odds of experiencing skin conditions were consistently higher in female-headed households than in male-headed households. |
| Discussion/Conclusion | Housing insecurity is a significant predictor of dermatological conditions among PLHIV. It is most severe when households also experience rodent and mosquito infestation. Programs and policies aimed at improving the health of PLHIV should include secured housing and the promotion of indoor and environmental sanitation. |
| Presenters and affiliations | Godfred O. Boateng York University Patrick Owuor Wayne State University Ellis Adjei Adams University of Notre Dame |
