Examining the Role of Socioeconomic Barriers on Access to Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV/AIDS Among Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Individuals in the U.S.
Yambao, D., Elhaija, A.
Affiliation: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Published: July 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.58417/WULX9726
Abstract: Amid a growing economic disparity across different social classes in the United States, socioeconomic barriers to accessing antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV/AIDS have continued to illuminate systematic gaps in healthcare equity. Among socioeconomically disadvantaged communities, difficulties in receiving proper accessibility to antiretroviral therapy result in both poor general health outcomes and compromised quality of life for those living with HIV/AIDS. Individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, according to population trends, demonstrate significantly reduced use of HIV therapy due to systematic challenges surrounding lack of insurance, unemployment, and inadequate access to medical facilities (1). Neighborhood-level socioeconomic indicators, such as educational attainment, are determinants of ART adherence and disease progression that exacerbate these difficulties (2). Even in settings with universal healthcare, poverty correlates with delayed ART initiation and higher mortality rates (3). Despite the general public healthcare resources available for people with HIV/AIDS, public stigma shapes their experiences in healthcare, undermining adherence to antiretroviral therapy and perpetuating feelings of isolation within already marginalized communities (4). The public stigmatization of HIV/AIDS significantly hinders access to ART by perpetuating discrimination, fostering fear of disclosure, and facilitating misinformation. Historically, cultural biases and societal prejudices that shape past and current educational and social institutions have driven disparities in resource distribution across socioeconomic classes in the United States. The lack of engagement with care has far-reaching consequences, contributing to larger patterns of structural inequalities and poor outcomes in quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS (2). Insufficient access to necessary medical treatment not only jeopardizes individual health outcomes but also exacerbates inequalities in key areas such as access to quality education (5). For neighborhoods of lower socioeconomic status, stigma has been found to hinder treatment accessibility and is also correlated with reduced individual social connections, driving feelings of social isolation and rejection from their communities (6). This isolation leads to lower self-esteem in all social, cultural, and political sectors of everyday life. The cycle of stigma and isolation encourages fears of judgment that discourages individuals from securing a treatment plan, undermining their confidence in navigating healthcare systems that fail to prioritize their needs effectively. A deeper understanding of these disparities reveal new possibilities for more equitable healthcare practices that prioritize treatment to all communities, regardless of socioeconomic status.
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