Barriers and incentives to HIV treatment uptake among Aboriginal people in Western Australia.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the barriers and incentives to HIV treatment uptake among Aboriginal people in Western Australia.


METHODS
In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted between February and September 2003 with 20 Aboriginal people who were HIV-positive; almost half the total number of Aboriginal people known to be living with HIV in Western Australia at that time.


RESULTS
Despite having access to treatments in both urban and rural areas, only 11 of the 20 participants were on antiretroviral treatment at the time of interview. Four of the women had been prescribed treatment during pregnancy only. The main barriers to treatment uptake were fear of disclosure and discrimination, heavy alcohol consumption and poverty. The incentives were pregnancy and access to services whose approach can be described as broad-based and holistic, i.e. supporting people in the context of their everyday lives by providing psychosocial and welfare support as well as healthcare.


CONCLUSIONS
For many Aboriginal people, maintaining social relationships, everyday routines and the respect of friends, families and community is a greater priority than individual health per se. Treatment regimens must be tailored to fit the logistical, social and cultural context of everyday life, and be delivered within the context of broad-based health services, in order to be feasible and sustainable.
Newman
Christy E
CE
National Centre in HIV Social Research, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. c.newman@unsw.edu.au
Bonar
Maria
M
Greville
Heath S
HS
Thompson
Sandra C
SC
Bessarab
Dawn
D
Kippax
Susan C
SC
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000635:transmission; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006302:Health Services Research; D006303:Health Services, Indigenous / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology; D011287:Prejudice; D014342:Truth Disclosure; D014904:Western Australia