Using a multisectoral approach to assess HIV/AIDS services in the western region of Puerto Rico.
The Enhancing Care Initiative of Puerto Rico assessed services available to people living with HIV/AIDS in the western region of Puerto Rico. Participants were 212 people living with HIV/AIDS and 116 employees from 6 agencies providing HIV/AIDS services in the region. Two main findings were that depression symptoms were present in 98.1% of people living with HIV/AIDS, and 7 of the 15 municipalities in the region did not provide any specific services to this population. Most urgent needs identified by people living with HIV/AIDS were economic support, housing, mental and psychological services, medicines, medical treatment, and transportation. The Enhancing Care Initiative provides an example of a successful multisectoral, multidimensional volunteer team effectively overcoming challenges while translating research into interventions to enhance HIV/AIDS care.
Asencio Toro
Gloria
G
Graduate Program of Psychology, Inter American University of Puerto Rico, PO Box 5100, San Germán, PR 00683. gasento@choicecable.net
Burns
Patricia
P
Pimentel
Daniel
D
Sánchez Peraza
Luis Raúl
LR
Rivera Lugo
Carmen
C