Mental Bandwidth is Associated with HIV and Viral Suppression Among Low-Income Women in Philadelphia

Aaron Richterman; Nancy Aitcheson; Celeste Durnwald; Cara Curley; William R Short; Mirabelle Jean Louis; Florence Momplaisir; Harsha Thirumurthy

doi:10.1007/s10461-024-04539-0

Mental Bandwidth is Associated with HIV and Viral Suppression Among Low-Income Women in Philadelphia

AIDS Behav. 2024 Nov 1. doi: 10.1007/s10461-024-04539-0. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Aaron Richterman^{1

2

3}, Nancy Aitcheson^{4

5}, Celeste Durnwald⁶, Cara Curley⁶, William R Short^{4

6}, Mirabelle Jean Louis⁷, Florence Momplaisir^{4

5}, Harsha Thirumurthy^{5

8}

Affiliations

¹ Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. [email protected].
² Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. [email protected].
³ Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. [email protected].
⁴ Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
⁵ Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
⁶ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
⁷ Bentley University, Boston, MA, USA.
⁸ Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

PMID: 39485620
DOI: 10.1007/s10461-024-04539-0

Abstract

Behavioral economics research suggests poverty may influence behavior by reducing mental bandwidth, increasing future discounting, and increasing risk aversion. It is plausible these decision-making processes are further impaired in the context of HIV or pregnancy. In this cross-sectional study of 86 low-income women in Philadelphia, HIV was associated with lower mental bandwidth (one of two measures) and lower risk aversion. Pregnancy was not associated with any decision-making factors. In secondary analyses, viral suppression was associated with greater mental bandwidth (one of two measures), and antenatal clinic attendance with lower future discounting. Anti-poverty interventions may be beneficial to improve HIV-related health behaviors.

Keywords: Behavioral economics; HIV; Mental bandwidth; Poverty; Pregnancy.

Abstract

Grants and funding