FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS - SOCIAL-SERVICE CONCERNS OF WOMEN INFECTED WITH HIV

To describe the range of social service concerns of women infected wit h HIV, we recruited 46 women to participate in one of eight focus grou ps. Transcripts from the focus groups were coded and their content was analyzed. The eight identified issues included the following: negativ e consequences of applying for a service, eligibility and red tape, fe ar of using services, concerns when services were used, the limits of some services, problems keeping services and red tape consequences of not having some services, and other concerns and desires. Social servi ce professionals can improve the willingness of women infected with HI V to seek social services try addressing the sociopsychological and bu reaucratic problems the women face.