Title | National income inequality and declining GDP growth rates are associated with increases in HIV diagnoses among people who inject drugs in Europe: A panel data analysis |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2015 |
Authors | Nikolopoulos, GK, Fotiou, A, Kanavou, E, Richardson, C, Detsis, M, Pharris, A, Suk, JE, Semenza, JC, Costa-Storti, C, Paraskevis, D, Sypsa, V, Malliori, M-M, Friedman, SR, Hatzakis, A |
Journal | PLoS One |
Volume | 10 |
Issue | 4 |
Pagination | e0122367 |
ISSN | 1932-6203 |
Abstract | BACKGROUND: There is sparse evidence that demonstrates the association between macro-environmental processes and drug-related HIV epidemics. The present study explores the relationship between economic, socio-economic, policy and structural indicators, and increases in reported HIV infections among people who inject drugs (PWID) in the European Economic Area (EEA).METHODS: We used panel data (2003-2012) for 30 EEA countries. Statistical analyses included logistic regression models. The dependent variable was taking value 1 if there was an outbreak (significant increase in the national rate of HIV diagnoses in PWID) and 0 otherwise. Explanatory variables included the growth rate of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the share of the population that is at risk for poverty, the unemployment rate, the Eurostat S80/S20 ratio, the Gini coefficient, the per capita government expenditure on health and social protection, and variables on drug control policy and drug-using population sizes. Lags of one to three years were investigated.FINDINGS: In multivariable analyses, using two-year lagged values, we found that a 1% increase of GDP was associated with approximately 30% reduction in the odds of an HIV outbreak. In GDP-adjusted analyses with three-year lagged values, the effect of the national income inequality on the likelihood of an HIV outbreak was significant [S80/S20 Odds Ratio (OR) = 3.89; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.15 to 13.13]. Generally, the multivariable analyses produced similar results across three time lags tested.INTERPRETATION: Given the limitations of ecological research, we found that declining economic growth and increasing national income inequality were associated with an elevated probability of a large increase in the number of HIV diagnoses among PWID in EEA countries during the last decade. HIV prevention may be more effective if developed within national and European-level policy contexts that promote income equality, especially among vulnerable groups. |
DOI | 10.1371/journal.pone.0122367 |
Alternate Journal | PLoS ONE |
PubMed ID | 25875598 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC4398461 |
Grant List | DP1 DA034989 / DA / NIDA NIH HHS / United States P30 DA11041 / DA / NIDA NIH HHS / United States T32 DA007233 / DA / NIDA NIH HHS / United States |