I don't know who I am: severely mental ill Latina WSW navigating differentness.
We examine interviews from a qualitative study designed to examine HIV perceptions, risk, and risk management among Puerto Rican women who have sex with women (WSW) and who also have been diagnosed with major depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia. These women's stories challenge both the lesbian and the Latino communities to reexamine how and why they claim individuals as their own and they similarly challenge professional communities, including HIV educators, health researchers, and medical care providers, to develop effective HIV prevention programs and counseling approaches that facilitate patient/client self-disclosure and consider cultural and contextual barriers to both self-disclosure and the provision of services.
Loue
Sana
S
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106-4945, USA. sana.loue@cwru.edu
Méndez
Nancy
N
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D002140:California; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D006293:Health Promotion; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D033262:Narration; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009820:Ohio; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology