Active client participation: an examination of self-empowerment in HIV/AIDS case management with women.
Case management has become increasingly popular as a means to alleviate the difficulties associated with accessing health care and social services. However, little information exists regarding models of case management specifically intended for work with HIV-positive women. This article explores the practices currently in use at an HIV/AIDS service agency to further define empowering practices employed by case managers working with HIV-positive women. Although a client's active participation in service plan development and delivery is widely regarded as the pathway to empowerment, findings indicate that "active participation" is not so readily defined; empowerment exists on a dynamic continuum with increasing levels of client participation. A model is presented that demonstrates the relationship of particular behaviors to client self-empowerment. Because the needs of clients with HIV/AIDS are continually fluctuating, and because case managers' behaviors will need to adapt accordingly, this model also incorporates the concept of balance as it pertains to HIV/AIDS case management.
Flynn
M B
MB
Veterans Affairs Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
McKeever
J L
JL
Spada
T
T
Gordon-Garofalo
V
V
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000451:nursing* / Q000517:prevention & control; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019090:Case Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016294:Models, Nursing; D014932:Women's Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*