AEGiS-11IAC: Education and race (but not income or risk category) associated with clinical trial participation among women living with HIV in Canada.

11th International AIDS Conference


Vancouver, British Columbia — July 7-12, 1996

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Education and race (but not income or risk category) associated with clinical trial participation among women living with HIV in Canada.

Int Conf AIDS 1996 Jul 7-12; 11:230 (abstract no. Tu.B.171)
Hankins C, Lapointe N, Walmsley S; Direction de la sante publique, Montreal, Canada. Fax: 514-932-1502. E-mail: md77@musica.mcgill.ca.

OBJECTIVES: To assess prophylactic treatment utilisation and clinical trial participation among women enrolled in a national prospective cohort study.

METHODS: Information concerning antiretroviral usage, prophylaxis for Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia (PCP), participation in clinical trials, and CD4 count was collected for 320 women participating in this national study. Chi square for trend, t-test, Wilcoxon, and logistic regression were used.

RESULTS: Median CD4 count was 308 (range 1-1719): less than 200 (32.0%), 200-499 (45.4%), greater than or equal to500 (22.6%). Since learning their HIV status, 72% of women with CD4 less than 500 cells/microliter had been on licensed antiretrovirals. Under 200 cells/microliter, 87% had been on licensed antiretrovirals and 79% on PCP prophylaxis. Overall, 52/312 (16.7%) had participated in a clinical trial. During follow-up (median 14 months) an additional 24 women enroled in a clinical trial for a total of 76/318 (23.9%). Clinical trial participation was associated in univariate analysis with Iower average CD4 count: 284 versus 329 cells/microliter (Wilcoxon, p=.005); higher median age: 37 versus 33 years (p=.006); Caucasian race (p=.001); having completed secondary schooling (p=.001), disease classification (p=.001) and having been on antiretrovirals (p=0.001). No association was seen for annual family income (p=.567), risk category (injection drug use versus other) (p=.067), place of birth (p=.288), region of residence (p=.351) and duration of knowledge of HIV status (p=.059). Logistic regression controlling for CD4 count, disease classification, licensed antiretroviral usage, income, risk category, age, and duration of knowledge of HIV status revealed that education (OR: 3.89; Cl95% 1.75-8.58; p=.001); and Caucasian race (OR: 2.58; Cl95% 1.29-5.16; p=.008) remained associated with clinical trial participation.

CONCLUSIONS: Neither income nor current and/or previous injection drug use are associated with lower participation. However, non-Caucasian women who have not completed high school are less likely to participate in clinical trials. Barriers to participation among these women and among all women require further exploration. Clinical trials specifically recruiting women and trials which address gynaecological concerns in particular are needed.

Keywords: AEGIS, Canada, HIV, CD4 Lymphocyte Count, Clinical Trials, Racial Stocks, Income, Pneumonia, Pneumocystis carinii, HIV Infections, HIV-1, Prospective Studies, Logistic Models, HIV Seropositivity, Human, Female, education, ICA11KWDaegis,canada,hiv,cd4lymphocytecount,clinicaltrials,racialstocks,income,pneumonia,pneumocystiscarinii,hivinfections,hiv-1,prospectivestudies,logisticmodels,hivseropositivity,human,female,education,ica11

960707
TuB171

Copyright © 1996 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.