Rodriguez, Veronica
(2024)
Trends in cancer-related lifestyle behaviors among people living with HIV (PLWH) in Puerto Rico from 2015 to 2021.
Master Essay, University of Pittsburgh.
Abstract
This study focuses on the relationship between HIV and cancer-related lifestyle behaviors among underrepresented minorities. The goal is to assess trends in cancer-related lifestyle behaviors among people living with HIV (PLWH) in Puerto Rico (PR) from 2015 to 2021. Data from the PR Medical Monitoring Project (PR-MMP), a cross-sectional study that collects data from PLWH aged 18+ in Puerto Rico (n=1,228) was analyzed. Data distribution was showed through weighted percentages and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Percentage changes (PC) and constructed 95% CIs, assessed cancer-related lifestyle behavior changes over the periods 2015-2017 and 2019-2021; intervals not including zero indicated significant changes (p<0.05). The mean age of study participants was 51.2±12.1 years. About 74.5% reported annual household income ≤$20,000 and 21.4% having educational attainment < 12th grade. Additionally, 55.8% reported alcohol use, 25.9% were current smokers, 17.4% illegal drug use in the past 12 months, and 21.1% had multiple sexual partners in the past 12 months. From 2015-2017 to 2019-2021, there was a decrease in ever smoking ≥ 100 cigarettes (PC=-19.7%, p<0.05) and having multiple sexual partners (PC=-16.1, p>0.05). However, there was an increase in current (PC=17.1%, p>0.05) and former (PC=21.0%, p>0.05) smokers, as well as the use of illegal drugs (PC=17.6%, p>0.05). In 2015, PLWH had higher rates of alcohol consumption (55.8% in MMP-PR vs. 27.9% in PR-Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System [BRFSS]) and current smoking (25.9% in MMP-PR vs. 10.8% in PR-BRFSS) than the general population in PR. The data obtained showed that despite that most of the PCs were not statistically significant (only smoking more than 100 cigarettes was) results raise concern for their potential consequences in the future. This study sheds light on the prevalence of cancer-related lifestyle behaviors among PLWH in PR from 2015 to 2021 and provides the first representative estimates and trends of the selected characteristics of cancer-related lifestyle behaviors among this population. The findings will help to identify potential targeted public health interventions critical to reducing the adoption of cancer-related lifestyle behaviors and lowering the cancer burden in this population.
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Details
| Item Type: |
Other Thesis, Dissertation, or Long Paper
(Master Essay)
|
| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
| Creators | Email | Pitt Username | ORCID  |
|---|
| Rodriguez, Veronica | vcr8@pitt.edu | vcr8 | |
|
| Contributors: |
| Contribution | Contributors Name | Email | Pitt Username | ORCID |
|---|
| Committee Chair | Documet, Patricia | pdocumet@pitt.edu | pdocumet | UNSPECIFIED | | Committee Member | Soto-Salgado, Marievelisse | marievelisse.soto1@upr.edu | UNSPECIFIED | UNSPECIFIED | | Committee Member | Miljkovic, Iva | miljkovici@edc.pitt.edu | miljkovici | UNSPECIFIED |
|
| Date: |
13 May 2024 |
| Date Type: |
Completion |
| Number of Pages: |
57 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
School of Public Health > Behavioral and Community Health Sciences |
| Degree: |
MPH - Master of Public Health |
| Thesis Type: |
Master Essay |
| Refereed: |
No |
| Date Deposited: |
13 May 2024 18:35 |
| Last Modified: |
13 May 2025 12:15 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/46276 |
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