title: [Factors associated with contacting HIV/AIDS associations in Ecuador: results of a community study].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the profile of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) who contact HIV/AIDS associations in Ecuador and to identify the factors related to that contact.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2011, a cross-sectional community study was conducted in two hospitals in Guayaquil. Based on a 125-question survey administered to 300 adult PLHA, a weighted multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify the factors related to contact with an association
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 300 participants, 34 (11.3%) were in contact with an association. Being over the age of 35, scoring high on the self-efficacy scale, having suffered serious social consequences after disclosing their HIV status, being able to talk to friends about living with HIV, expressing the need to talk about living with HIV with a health professional, and scoring low on the index of the HIV status disclosure control effort were related to that contact.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The characteristics of the PLHA in contact with an association were: being over the age of 35, having suffered serious social consequences following disclosure of seropositivity, and feeling that their psychosocial needs were not being met by the health system in terms of the services provided. These people more easily managed their HIV status in their social milieu and displayed a greater ability to talk to friends about their seropositivity. This information is useful for community actors to maintain and support mobilization on HIV in Ecuador.
authors.affiliation: Coalition PLUS, Pantin, France, abernier@coalitionplus.org.
authors.forename: Adeline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bernier
authors.affiliation: Corporación Kimirina, Quito, Ecuador.
authors.forename: María Elena
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Acosta
authors.affiliation: AIDES, Pantin, France.
authors.forename: Daniela Rojas
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.affiliation: Corporación Kimirina, Quito, Ecuador.
authors.forename: Cesar
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bonifaz
authors.affiliation: Coalición Ecuatoriana de Personas que Viven con VIH/Sida, Quito, Ecuador.
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jaramillo
authors.affiliation: Coalition PLUS, Pantin, France, abernier@coalitionplus.org.
authors.forename: Emilie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.affiliation: Université du Québec à Montréal, Chaire de Recherche du Canada en Education à la Santé, Montréal, Canada.
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Otis
authors.affiliation: Université Lyon 2, Groupe de Recherche en Psychologie Sociale, Bron, France.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Préau
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004484:Ecuador; D015658:HIV Infections; D006801:Humans; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires