Rural women's knowledge of and attitudes toward acquired immune deficiency syndrome

AIDS: the development of a gender appropriate research intervention

This study is part of an AIDS research-service project, implemented by a faculty member and graduate students from the University of Maryland, School of Social Work. It focuses on the last of the completed studies between 1993 and 1998. To access women-centered health care services in Washington, D.C., a four member team engaged in a gender-specific research intervention. Nine women with AIDS were hand picked and interviewed. The research team wanted the women with HIV/AIDS to have a forum in which to tell their stories, in their own words regarding their medical and social service needs. Anecdotal accounts from the researchers' journals provide descriptions for findings. Qualitative evaluation theories guided the development of the interview questions. This study explores demographic factors, method of contraction, symptoms, initial reactions, support systems, level of satisfaction and frustration with services, physical health-care needs, social service needs, including legal, housing, financial and mental health needs of women living with HIV/AIDS. The literature search reaffirmed the gender related disparities of services offered found by the team in the field. Recommendations for service providers are given.

Sexual risk behaviors among rural women of childbearing age

Given the morbidity and mortality associated with sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS, the increasing number of HIV/AIDS cases among heterosexual women, and the limited information regarding rural women's health, it is timely to holistically examine the determinants of sexual risk behavior(s) among rural women of childbearing age. Use of the Interaction Model of Client Health Behavior allows an integrated perspective of demographic characteristics, motivation, problem-solving, self-esteem, and sexual risk behaviors for this population. The 144 subjects in this study included 76 African American and 60 White women (average age 28.76 years, SD 6.58 years). Sexual risk behaviors were defined as more than one sex partner and (partner) not using a condom. African American women reported using condoms more than White women. Younger married women used condoms more than older married women.

Impact of HIV/AIDS on women in the United States: challenges of primary and secondary prevention

Women are the fastest growing group in the United States being infected with HIV. Although the majority of people with AIDS in the United States are men, AIDS is increasing almost four times as fast among women. Yet women remain understudied, underreport, and underdiagnosed. There are insufficient resources and services targeting the primary prevention needs of women, so women keep getting infected. Secondary prevention efforts for women infected with HIV have been stymied, and nearly a decade has been lost that might have been devoted to early detection of HIV infection in women, documentation of the natural history of HIV in women, exploration of their health needs, expansion of gender-specific services, and development of interventions to improve quality and length of life for HIV-positive women. In this article, I analyze the impact of HIV/AIDS on women in the United States and pose challenges for primary and secondary prevention.