title: A peer-based substance abuse intervention for HIV+ rural women: a pilot study.
abstract: Alcohol and other drug (AOD) use plays a major role in the acquisition and spread of HIV, and the majority of women living with HIV are either active or recovering drug users. Forty-six percent of women's cases of HIV infection have been attributed to injection-drug use and 18% to women's heterosexual contacts with injection-drug users. Substance abuse often contributes to noncompliance with HIV treatment. Individuals with multiple diagnoses, such as those with HIV and substance abuse, may not be able to withstand the burden of integrating the different clinical approaches used to treat their substance abuse and other comorbid disorders such as HIV. This article reports the results of an intervention pilot study testing a peer counseling intervention for substance abuse in rural women with HIV. Thirteen women completed the intervention. Although limited by sample size, results suggest that this intervention was effective in helping women to acknowledge problems with their alcohol and drug abuse and to begin taking steps to achieve sobriety.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, University of South Carolina, Columbia, 29208, USA. mary.boyd@gwm.sc.edu
authors.forename: Mary R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Boyd
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moneyham
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Murdaugh
authors.forename: Kenneth D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tavakoli
authors.forename: Kirby
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jackwon
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Medha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vyavaharkar
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000407:Alabama; D003376:Counseling / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D005845:Georgia; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration; D010379:Peer Group; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018401:Sample Size; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology; D013022:South Carolina; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014932:Women's Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*