title: Antiretroviral therapy: unmet need and associated socio-demographic characteristics among HIV-positive women in Haiphong, Vietnam.
abstract: In Vietnam, ARV access has been scaled up since 2005 in high HIV prevalence areas in order to meet increasing demands for HIV treatment. This paper aims to estimate ARV unmet need and its associated socio-demographic characteristics among HIV-positive women in Haiphong, Vietnam. A cross-sectional study using structured questionnaires and CD4 cell count was conducted with 353 HIV-positive women recruited from groups of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), by snowball technique through member of PLWHA groups and the local AIDS management system (Provincial AIDS Center (PAC)). The percentage of HIV-positive women having an unmet ARV need was estimated to be 40%, particularly high among women who were not registered at PAC. Having an unmet ARV need was associated with not participating in PLWHA groups (OR 6.5; 2.4-17.2) and being younger than 30 years old (OR 2.9; 1.1-7.3).
authors.affiliation: Health Strategy and Policy Institute, Hanoi, Vietnam. namnguyenthu@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Nguyen Thi Thu
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: Ib Christian
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Bygbjerg
authors.forename: Hanne Overgaard
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Mogensen
authors.forename: Vibeke
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rasch
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014744:Vietnam; D055815:Young Adult