A cross-sectional description of social capital in an international sample of persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH)
Date
Authors
ORCID
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6066-1853
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4400-9432
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8997-3671
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8710-6139
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9519-7587
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9026-4189
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4106-6498
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3551-8016
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4592-3525
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9785-6467
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4251-6801
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4277-187X
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5744-6279
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2741-7821
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0438-2037
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8072-6244
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8464-0918
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7538-5780
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6066-1853
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4400-9432
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8997-3671
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8710-6139
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9519-7587
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9026-4189
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4106-6498
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3551-8016
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4592-3525
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9785-6467
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4251-6801
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4277-187X
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5744-6279
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2741-7821
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0438-2037
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8072-6244
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8464-0918
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Background Social capital refers to the resources linked to having a strong social network. This concept plays into health outcomes among People Living with HIV/AIDS because, globally, this is a highly marginalized population. Case studies show that modifying social capital can lead to improvements in HIV transmission and management; however, there remains a lack of description or definition of social capital in international settings. The purpose of our paper was to describe the degree of social capital in an international sample of adults living with HIV/AIDS.
Methods We recruited PLWH at 16 sites from five countries including Canada, China, Namibia, Thailand, and the United States. Participants (n = 1,963) completed a cross-sectional survey and data were collected between August, 2009 and December, 2010. Data analyses included descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and correlational analysis.
Results Participant's mean age was 45.2 years, most (69%) identified as male, African American/Black (39.9%), and unemployed (69.5%). Total mean social capital was 2.68 points, a higher than average total social capital score. Moderate correlations were observed between self-reported physical (r = 0.25) and psychological condition (r = 0.36), social support (r = 0.31), and total social capital. No relationships between mental health factors, including substance use, and social capital were detected.
Conclusions This is the first report to describe levels of total social capital in an international sample of PLWH and to describe its relationship to self-reported health in this population.