title: Utilization of healthcare services by people living with HIV/AIDS in Europe. Eurosupport Group.
abstract: Our objective was to compare the utilization of healthcare/support services for people with HIV infection in Europe. Between August 1996 and September 1997 self-administered anonymous questionnaires were distributed by reference HIV treatment centres and HIV support organizations. The questionnaire was completed by 1366 people living with HIV/AIDS. A small number of people had received influenza or pneumococcal vaccinations (34% and 19% respectively). Many patients did not receive dental care (48% of participants from the southern countries) and only 72% of the women had a gynaecological examination. More participants from the south reported insufficient access to healthcare/support services, particularly for nursing care (19%), psychological support (33%), nutritional advice (45%), access to support organizations (36%), and legal advice (46%). In conclusion, many people living with HIV/AIDS in Europe do not benefit from certain annual medical procedures proposed by international guidelines and consider themselves to have insufficient access to health/support services.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baratta
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schrooten
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Colebunders
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Caldeira
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Coppieters
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dreezen
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004045:Dietary Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines