Assessment of Economic Factors Associated with the Psychological Well-Being of HIV+ Persons in Kenya

The specific aim of this study is to conduct a preliminary assessment of the association between measures of economic context and material well-being on the one hand, and positive and negative psychological well-being on the other. We postulate that positive psychological well-being is a key determinant of effective and sustainable care and treatment for HIV+ persons, with potential to help reduce situations of HIV transmission. The study will include 100 HIV+ men and 100 HIV+ women receiving care in Kenya. The total number of respondents will be equally distributed between the cities of Nairobi and Kisumu. A convenience sampling approach—stratified by gender—will be used in Kisumu. Oversampling of persons currently employed in the formal or informal sectors will be applied in Nairobi. Survey administration will be conducted simultaneously at both sites over a six month period. We will conduct three types of analyses:

1. Assess and select measures for the degree of variation they exhibit.
2. Conduct bivariate measures of association in order to assess unadjusted associations between the psychological well-being measures and those economic factors that demonstrate sufficient variation.
3. Conduct logistic or multinomial logistic regressions in order to assess the extent of the relationship between the psychological well-being and the economic factors after accounting for potential confounders and effect modifiers.

Information drawn from this study will help fill the gap in understanding the connections between structural factors and psychological well-being of HIV+ persons.