Lang L, Nagy N, Gertner M, Masci J; International Conference on AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS. 2002 Jul 7-12; 14: abstract no. E11658.

Elmhurst Hospital Center, Elmhurst, New York, United States

BACKGROUND: In the past decade the AIDS epidemic has dramatically increased worldwide, disproportionally rising among women and children. In part because women are considered the fastest growing segment of the HIV infected population in this country, not only individuals, but also entire families are affected by this illness. METHOD: An anonymous questionnaire was distributed to HIV positive women and caregivers of HIV positive children in Queens County of New York. Information was collected based on demographics, risk factors, circumstances leading to HIV testing, modes of infection and detection, women as caregivers, barriers to accessing care, and adherence issues. RESULTS: There were a total of 104 respondents, of which a majority were African American (27%) and Hispanic (24%). A high proportion of respondents (43%) left full time education before reaching the 12th Grade. An overwhelming majority of the women reported that they contacted HIV through heterosexual contact. Almost 1/4 of the women reported their were tested as a result of being hospitalized with an AIDS related illness. Data indicate that there were erratic intervals between suspected time of infection and initiation of treatment. The majority of women in the study (72%) reported that they were responsible for caring for others. It was found that emotional and transportation problems were the leading barriers to care, with the lack of sleep being the most compromised aspect of self-care. CONCLUSION: Findings to date include: Evidence indicates that many women are infected by heterosexual sex. Women in the study often were not alert to their infected status. Majority of the women are responsible for the care of infected or affected adults and children. Care giving responsibilities cause many women to be non-adherent to antiretroviral therapy and related issues, including missing meals and appointments.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• AIDS Vaccines
• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Adult
• African Americans
• Anti-HIV Agents
• Biomedical Research
• Caregivers
• Child
• Demography
• Female
• HIV
• HIV Antibodies
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seronegativity
• HIV Seropositivity
• Health Services Needs and Demand
• Humans
• Mothers
• New York
• Population
• Risk Factors
• immunology

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0015343

UI: 102252841

From Meeting Abstracts