title: Vietnamese women's struggle to access antiretroviral drugs in a context of free treatment.
abstract: This qualitative study aims to explore how HIV positive women living in a northern province of Vietnam experience seeking antiretroviral (ARV) treatment in the public health system, and how they address obstacles encountered along the way. Despite the fact that antiretroviral drugs were freely provided, they were not always accessible for women in need. A variety of factors at the population and health system level interacted in ways that often made access to ARV drugs a complicated and time-consuming process. We have suggested changes that could be made at the health system level that may help facilitate women's ability to access treatment.
authors: Health Strategy and Policy Institute, Hanoi, Vietnam. namnguyenthu@yahoo.com
authors: Nam Thi Thu
authors: NT
authors: Nguyen
authors: Vibeke
authors: V
authors: Rasch
authors: Ib Christian
authors: IC
authors: Bygbjerg
authors: Hanne Overgaard
authors: HO
authors: Mogensen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000600:supply & distribution / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006291:Health Policy; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006304:Health Status; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014744:Vietnam; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents