title: Health needs of HIV-infected women in the United States: insights from the women living positive survey.
abstract: The objective of this study was to describe attitudes, opinions, and perceived health needs of HIV-infected women in the United States. In this cross-sectional study, women were invited to participate in the Women Living Positive survey, a structured interview instrument with 45 questions. Collected data were deidentified and the margin of error was calculated as four percentage points. Incoming toll-free phone interviews were conducted from December 21, 2006, through March 14, 2007 among subjects recruited from a U.S. national network of AIDS counseling centers. Seven hundred HIV-infected women (43% African American, 28.5% Hispanic, 28.5% Caucasian; median age, 42.5 years) receiving combination antiretroviral therapy for 3 years or more replied to recruitment flyers. Overall, 55% of survey participants had never discussed gender-specific HIV treatment issues with their HIV care providers. Of the 45% who did discuss these issues, almost all (96%) were satisfied. On average, one-third of the women had seen three or more providers since beginning HIV treatment; 43% indicated they had switched providers because of communication issues. Among women who had been or were pregnant at the time of the survey (n=159), more than half (57%) had not had pre-pregnancy discussions with their HIV provider about the most appropriate HIV regimens for women attempting to become pregnant. Significant communication gaps exist between HIV-infected women and their providers when discussing gender-specific treatment issues. These data highlight a need for U.S. health care providers to incorporate discussion of gender-specific issues, including preconception and reproductive counseling, into management strategies for HIV-infected women.
authors: Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA. Kathleen.Squires@jefferson.edu
authors: Kathleen E
authors: KE
authors: Squires
authors: Sally L
authors: SL
authors: Hodder
authors: Judith
authors: J
authors: Feinberg
authors: Dawn Averitt
authors: DA
authors: Bridge
authors: Staats
authors: S
authors: Abrams
authors: Stephen P
authors: SP
authors: Storfer
authors: Judith A
authors: JA
authors: Aberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003142:Communication; D003376:Counseling; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000635:transmission; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D016742:Preconception Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents