Date of Conferral

2021

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Health

Advisor

Mary L. Gutierrez

Abstract

Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) remains a substantial cause of mortality, particularly among U.S. segments of the population. Marriage is protective of HIV/AIDS mortality due to monogamy; however, the increased risk of HIV/AIDS mortality among other marital subgroups is understudied. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between marital status and HIV/AIDS mortality among a cohort of HIV infected individuals in a southern county. Mills' behavior theory guided this research as it posits that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning, which occurs through the interaction with the environment. The study had a quantitative research design and consisted of a cohort of 1,164 cases 20 years and older infected with HIV/AIDS who died during the period between 2012-2018. The exposure variable was marital status (divorced, widowed, single/never married with married as reference category). HIV/AIDS mortality was the outcome variable with age, gender, and race/ethnicity as moderator variables. Logistic regression analysis indicated that compared to those married, widowed were 8.247 times more likely to die from HIV/AIDS (OR=8.247, 95% CI [3.100-21.941], p <.05). Gender (male), age, and race (African Americans) moderated the association between exposure and outcome. Although not statistically significant, those who divorced were 0.30 times less likely and single/never married 1.385 times more likely to die from HIV/AIDS than those married. This study's findings may help health educators and public health planners identify strategies to reduce risky behavior resulting in HIV/AIDS mortality/infection for those who are single/never married or widowed.

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