MEETING THE NEEDS OF WOMEN LIVING WITH HIV

HIV research, treatment, and support programs in Noah America have bee n based on the premise that HIV is a gay man's disease. HIV also affec ts women. The purposes of this study were to: (1) examine the feelings , concerns, and needs of HIV infected women in a mid-sized Canadian ci ty; and (2) determine whether a community agency for HIV positive pers ons was adequately supporting women. With informed consent, HIV positi ve women attending the community agency or a regional medical care fac ility were interviewed using qualitative research methods to elicit th eir lived experience. Eight women were interviewed (20% of the women w ho are HIV positive in this center). Four areas of concern were identi fied: (1) the impact of diagnosis on women and their children; (2) nee d for supports specific to HIV positive women; (3) differences in need s and supports available to men and women; and (4) lack of comfort wit h, or knowledge about, currently available facilities. These results a re consistent with previously reported research. HIV positive women wh o are neither drug-users nor promiscuous feel stigmatized and less sup ported than HIV positive males. Recommendations for practice included: formulation of self-help groups for women, a more female friendly atm osphere, presence of female staff and other HIV positive women to supp ort these women, and improved inter-agency cooperation. Many recommend ations have been implemented and exceeded. The community agency now in cludes a child's play area, the hiring of a female social worker, and the establishment of an off-site support group for HIV positive women.