Table.
Summary characteristics of quantitative studies in the literature on syndemics, 2003–16 (n=71)
| No. (%) or Median (Interquartile range) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| ||||
| Entire sample (n=71) | Initial review (n=40) | Updated search (n=31) | ||
| Year of publication | ||||
| 2003–2008 | 3 (4) | 3 (8) | - | |
| 2009–2013 | 18 (25) | 18 (45) | - | |
| 2014–2015 | 34 (48) | 19 (48) | 15 (48) | |
| 2016 | 16 (23) | - | 16 (52) | |
| Study design | ||||
| Experimental or quasi-experimental | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | |
| Observational | 71 (100) | 40 (100) | 31 (100) | |
| Cross-sectional | 56 (79) | 32 (80) | 24 (77) | |
| Longitudinal | 15 (21) | 8 (20) | 7 (23) | |
| Level of analysis | ||||
| Ecological | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | |
| Individual | 71 (100) | 40 (100) | 31 (100) | |
| Multilevel | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | |
| Study setting | ||||
| U.S. | 53 (75) | 32 (80) | 21 (68) | |
| Other | 18 (25) a | 8 (20) | 10 (32) | |
| Study population | ||||
| Men who have sex with men | 36 (50) | 21 (53) | 15 (48) | |
| Women | 10 (14) | 7 (18) | 3 (10) | |
| Persons with HIV | 9 (13) | 5 (13) | 4 (13) | |
| General | 5 (7) | 4 (10) | 1 (3) | |
| Adolescents | 3 (4) | 0 (0) | 3 (10) | |
| Other | 8 (11) | 3 (8) | 5 (16) | |
| Sample size | 591 (301–1535) | 596 (445–1425) | 503 (212–1535) | |
| Psychosocial problems | ||||
| Mental health | 62 (87) | 33 (83) | 29 (62) | |
| Substance use | 61 (86) | 36 (90) | 25 (81) | |
| Violence | 50 (70) | 27 (68) | 23 (74) | |
| Other | 44 (62) b | 23 (58) | 21 (68) | |
| Outcomes of interest | ||||
| HIV transmission risk behavior | 45 (63) | 29 (73) | 16 (52) | |
| HIV-related health outcome | 12 (17) | 6 (15) | 6 (19) | |
| HIV infection | 11 (15) | 9 (23) | 2 (6) | |
| Mental health | 6 (8) | 4 (10) | 2 (6) | |
| Substance use | 6 (8) | 2 (5) | 4 (13) | |
Includes Canada (n=3), China (n=3), multiple countries (n=3), Mexico (n=2), Belgium (n=1), Ghana (n=1), India (n=1), Nepal (n=1), South Africa (n=1), Thailand (n=1), and Vietnam (n=1)
Includes sexual compulsivity (n=10), homelessness (n=9), social isolation (n=8), HIV transmission risk behavior (n=7), poverty (n=7), food insecurity (n=5), HIV seropositivity (n=4), incarceration (n=4), sexual minority stigma (n=4), racism (n=3), condom use self-efficacy (n=2), educational attainment (n=2), HIV stigma (n=2), housing insecurity (n=2), self-esteem (n=2), caregiving responsibility (n=1), familial conflict tactics (n=1), health insurance (n=1), HIV treatment adherence (n=1), impulsivity (n=1), involuntary subordination (n=1), nuclear family structure (n=1), and quality of life (n=1)