title: A social cognitive model of health for HIV-positive adults receiving care in India.
abstract: In-depth interviews were conducted with 50 HIV-positive adults (23 women, 27 men) with access to care at a non-governmental organization in Chennai, India to gain a broad understanding of how they managed their HIV infection. Using a Social Cognitive Model of Health, we identified factors within the model's three domains--Personal, Environmental, and Behavioral--that are applicable to this socio-cultural context. The Personal domain's factors were a positive self-concept, family-focused goals, and treatment optimism; the Environmental domain comprised family-based support, treatment availability, access and quality, and HIV stigma and discrimination; and the Behavior domain's factors were medication adherence and health habits, sexual behavior, and social relationships and emotional well-being. Significant differences for many of the factors within the three domains were observed across married men and women, widowed women, unmarried men, and female sex workers. Implications for an enhanced intervention for HIV-infected individuals in similar treatment settings are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, The Consultation Center, 389 Whitney Avenue, New Haven, CT 06511, USA. nalini.tarakeshwar@yale.edu
authors.forename: Nalini
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tarakeshwar
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Srikrishnan
authors.forename: Sethulakshmi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vasu
authors.forename: Suniti
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Solomon
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Merson
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sikkema
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017149:Private Sector / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012649:Self Concept; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012938:Social Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents