title: Examining the Health Care Experiences of Women Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Perceived HIV-Related Stigma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The increased incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in women, particularly marginalized women, prompted research to examine women's health service experiences at a local outpatient clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative case study using semistructured interviews examined facilitators and barriers to health care services. Seventeen women living with HIV who accessed care at an outpatient HIV clinic in central west Ontario were interviewed. Thematic analysis was used to code health care experiences perceived as HIV-related stigma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women perceived HIV-related stigma when health care providers lacked basic HIV knowledge and failed to uphold the ethical principles of patient-provider relationships, resulting in women's disengagement from health care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We propose a community-based participatory research framework to reform health care educational curriculum toward a culture of health care safety that is inclusive of people living with HIV.
authors.affiliation: McMaster University, School of Social Work, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: iona@mcmaster.ca.
authors.forename: Allyson
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ion
authors.affiliation: McMaster University, School of Nursing, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: delston@cogeco.ca.
authors.forename: Dawn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Elston
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009864:Ontario; D010465:Perception; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011287:Prejudice; D036301:Qualitative Research; D057545:Social Stigma