CORRELATES OF EMPLOYMENT AFTER AIDS DIAGNOSIS IN THE BOSTON HEALTH STUDY

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of p ersonal and job characteristics on the time to employment loss after d iagnosis of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and to exami ne how job loss affects patients' income. Methods. Data were collected from 305 patients with AIDS at three sites in Boston, Mass, between F ebruary 1990 and July 1991. Life-table methods were used to estimate t he number of months employed after diagnosis. A Cox proportional hazar ds model was used to estimate the effect of risk factors on the probab ility of ceasing employment in a month. Results. Seventy-six percent o f respondents were working at the time of diagnosis; 53% still had a j ob at the time of the baseline interview, which averaged 16 months lat er? but about one in three was on sick or disability leave. Mental and physical demands of jobs significantly influenced the likelihood of e mployment loss. The loss of earnings reduced monthly income by 75%. Co nclusions. Job characteristics affect the likelihood of employment los s, which in turn has a deleterious effect on income. Programs supporti ng persons with AIDS during the transition out of work or enabling the m to modify their job demands may also reduce these problems.