Assessing the impact of homelessness on HIV/AIDS transmission dynamics

• Main Author: C.P. Bhunu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2015-12-01
• Series: Cogent Mathematics
• Subjects: mathematical model; HIV/AIDS and homelessness
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23311835.2015.1021602

Care for the people living with HIV/AIDS is more than the provision of antiretroviral therapy. The effects of homelessness on HIV/AIDS transmission are captured through a mathematical model. The mathematical model is rigorously analyzed. The disease-free equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable when the reproduction number is less than unity. Results from the analysis of the reproduction number suggests that homelessness enhances both HIV transmission and progression to the AIDS stage. This is further supported by numerical simulations which show that some elements of homelessness (lack of entertainment) enhances HIV/AIDS transmission.