title: Barriers to health-seeking behaviors for women infected with HIV.
abstract: There is a growing need to develop services for women with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, despite the reluctance of many to seek help. Yet, there is limited knowledge of the forces that act as barriers to health-seeking behaviors among these women. In the analysis of this focus group study of 46 women with HIV, eight distinct categories of perceived barriers to care were identified. These were: Lack of knowledge on the part of health care providers, fear of negative treatment, insensitivity of health care providers, fear by providers, lack of patient education, lack of confidentiality, lack of honesty, and blaming the victim. The women's descriptions of their experiences with health care providers are presented and discussed in the context of the potential impact of such behaviors on women's willingness to accept or continue treatment for HIV infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Administrative and Clinical Nursing, University of South Carolina, Columbia, USA.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Sowell
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Seals
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moneyham
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guillory
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Demi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*