Gender differences in knowledge and perceptions of HIV resources among individuals living with HIV in the Southeast.
OBJECTIVE
Ancillary services have been associated with beneficial health utilization outcomes among individuals infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), including greater retention in medical care and greater likelihood of antiretroviral use. Our primary objectives were to examine gender differences in barriers to ancillary services among people living with HIV in the Southeastern United States.


METHODS
Survey and chart abstraction data were collected from six tertiary infectious diseases clinics in the Southeast. Using multivariate analyses, we examined the relationship between gender and 1) knowledge of how to access HIV and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) resource information and 2) opinions about the helpfulness of local services for people with HIV/AIDS.


RESULTS
Women were less knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS resources and rated local services less favorably than men. Middle-aged and older African-American women rated local services as less helpful than other survey participants did.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate a need for outreach services that are designed to address the specific needs of older African-American women, and women in general.
Whetten
Kathryn
K
Health Inequalities Program, Duke University Center for Health Policy, Law and Management, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
Reif
Susan
S
Lowe
Kristin
K
Eldred
Lois
L
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006295:Health Resources; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception; D044469:Racial Groups; D012424:Rural Population; D012737:Sex Factors; D015144:Southeastern United States