Economic status and AIDS mortality unlinked

A study on the relationship between economic status and AIDS mortality in Tanzania recently conducted by a Hopkins research team  suggests no correlation between wealth and prime-age deaths in regions with high AIDS-infected populations. The study was led by Marjorie Opuni-Akuamoa, an assistant scientist at the Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is an immune system disorder caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV is a retrovirus that causes a drop in T-cell count and eventual failure of the immune system.

Those infected with HIV are diagnosed with AIDS when their T-cell count drops below 200 cells per microliter of blood, compared to the typical 1,000 cells per microliter for healthy people.

HIV is spread through bodily fluids, including blood, semen, vaginal fluid and breast milk. Common means of infection consist of unprotected sex, breast-feeding and needle sharing.

In popular culture, there is a strong association between HIV/AIDS infection and lower economic status, which is grounded upon reasonable explanations. Poorer patients generally have fewer resources to provide sufficient education about the routes of transmission and dangers of AIDS.

Furthermore, those having monetary troubles are more likely to provide sexual favors for compensation. Finally, those of lower economic status are more susceptible to infections and malnutrition.

Currently, the most affected region is sub-Saharan Africa, making up approximately 68% of the entire infected population.

Wealthier people, on the other hand, generally have fewer sexual partners and more education on the dangers of HIV/AIDS.

While previous studies focused on prevalence of HIV/AIDS and its relationship with economic status, this study assessed the correlation between wealth and deaths of prime-age men and women in a setting with high AIDS mortality over a 13 year period.

Three standards were used to measure economic status: per capita expenditure, modern wealth asset index and traditional wealth asset index.

Modern wealth asset index uses material possessions such as televisions, cars and electricity to measure wealth; traditional wealth asset index measures wealth based on ownership of cattle, farm tools and agricultural land.

A total of 691 men and 833 women between ages 15 and 39 participated in this study. The researchers used data collected in the Kagera Health and Development Survey, which studied inviduals living in North West Tanzania.

Results showed no inequality of prime-age deaths in regions with high AIDS mortality. No differences were found between male and female populations. Furthermore, results remained consistent regardless of which measure of economic status was used.