title: The needs of people with HIV in the UK: findings from a national survey.
abstract: The aim of this study was to describe the needs of people living with HIV in the UK. A questionnaire addressing 17 areas of need was completed by 1821 people living with HIV in the UK. The core need indicator was a personal assessment of happiness with current state. A quarter of all respondents were happy with their current state across all needs. For each need, the following proportions were unhappy with their current state: sex, 40%; anxiety/depression, 33%; sleep, 32%; self-confidence, 32%; money, 28%; household chores and self-care, 18%; housing, 18%; appetite, eating and drinking, 17%; friendships, 17%; discrimination, 16%; mobility, 15%; dealing with health professionals, 15%; relationships, 14%; drugs and alcohol, 9%; taking treatments regularly, 5%; HIV treatment knowledge, 4%; looking after children, 2%. Although some people with HIV are coping well with minimal unmet need, the overall picture of need is dominated by personal, social and economic issues.
authors.affiliation: Sigma Research, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Unit 64 Eurolink Centre, 49 Effra Road, London SW2 1BZ, UK.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Weatherburn
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom