Assisting persons living with HIV/AIDS to return to work: programmatic steps for AIDS service organizations.
The objective of this study was to develop a comprehensive picture of the concerns and needs of persons living with HIV/AIDS who are interested in returning to work. To collect information in this new area, a series of focus groups was conducted with a random sample of clients from AIDS Project Los Angeles who were currently unemployed and expressed a desire to return to work. The results indicate a range of concerns among individuals with HIV/AIDS about returning to work, such as a loss of or change in medical benefits, the need for flexibility in employment to address ongoing medical needs, concerns regarding disclosure of their HIV/AIDS status, the possibility of job related discrimination, and the need to address the practical aspects of reentering the labor market after a prolonged absence. The findings suggest a series of action steps for AIDS service organizations and others to address the needs of persons with HIV/AIDS in this new area.
Brooks
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AIDS Project Los Angeles, CA 90028, USA.
Klosinski
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D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000534:rehabilitation; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003376:Counseling; D004493:Education; D005006:Ethnicity; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007348:Insurance, Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational / Q000523:psychology; D012943:Social Security