THE IMPACT OF HOUSING STATUS ON HEALTH-CARE UTILIZATION AMONG PERSONSWITH HIV DISEASE

This study sought to identify the prevalence of unstable housing situa tions, and for whom they occurred, and to examine differences in healt h cave utilization by housing status. Housing status and inpatient and outpatient health care utilization of 1,851 HIV-infected individuals was ascertained through interviews. Nine percent of respondents were i n unstable housing situations. Unstable housing was associated with si gnificantly lower functional status. The unstably housed were more lik ely to visit an emergency room (p < 0.05) and had fewer ambulatory vis its than persons with stable housing (p < 0.03). They incurred nearly five more hospital days and their average hospitalization was approxim ately 1.5 days longer than the stably housed, although these differenc es were not significant. Utilization of ambulatory care is lower among unstably housed persons with HIV disease, which may have led to their increased reliance upon emergency rooms and hospitals. Helping HIV- i nfected individuals maintain adequate housing could reverse this patte rn.