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Savage V, Gomez H, Perez M, Donastorg Y, Kerrigan D, Barrington C. Trajectories of HIV management among virally suppressed and unsuppressed female sex workers in the Dominican Republic: A comparative qualitative analysis. Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being 2023; 18:2164947. [PMID: 36681941 PMCID: PMC9869989 DOI: 10.1080/17482631.2023.2164947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Despite suboptimal HIV outcomes among female sex workers (FSW), limited research has been conducted on factors that impact viral suppression among this population. Examining narratives of HIV management, we examined how experiences of diagnosis, treatment initiation, and ongoing care behaviours shaped viral suppression outcomes over time. METHODS We conducted 20 in-depth interviews with FSW in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Using narrative and thematic qualitative approaches, we developed analytic summaries and matrices to compare trajectories of managing HIV between suppressed and unsuppressed participants. RESULTS Regardless of suppression status, participants described similar narratives of overcoming initial challenges to HIV management through personal resilience and social support. Unsuppressed participants identified more delays in initiating antiretroviral therapy and more lapses in adherence due to less active acceptance of their HIV status and more persistent experiences of economic hardship and HIV stigma. CONCLUSIONS We found that individual, interpersonal and structural factors, including stigma and economic precarity, differentiated trajectories towards viral suppression among FSW indicating the importance of multilevel interventions. Improved access to mental health services and social support could promote greater early acceptance of HIV status and progress towards viral suppression among FSW.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Savage
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- CONTACT Virginia Savage Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, 35 Dauer Drive, CB #7440, Chapel Hill, NC27599, USA
| | - Hoisex Gomez
- HIV Vaccine Trials Research Unit, Instituto Dermatologico y Cirugia de la Piel, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
| | - Martha Perez
- HIV Vaccine Trials Research Unit, Instituto Dermatologico y Cirugia de la Piel, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
| | - Yeycy Donastorg
- HIV Vaccine Trials Research Unit, Instituto Dermatologico y Cirugia de la Piel, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
| | - Deanna Kerrigan
- Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Clare Barrington
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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Celeste-Villalvir A, Payan DD, Armenta G, Palar K, Then-Paulino A, Acevedo R, Fulcar MA, Derose KP. Exploring gender differences in HIV-related stigma and social support in a low-resource setting: A qualitative study in the Dominican Republic. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0290228. [PMID: 37616218 PMCID: PMC10449144 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
HIV-related stigma can affect health by compromising coping and social support. Gender differences in stigma experiences and social support are underexplored, particularly in the Caribbean. We conducted semi-structured interviews (N = 32) with patients at two HIV clinics in the Dominican Republic. Transcripts were coded using qualitative content analysis (deductive and inductive approaches) to identify themes regarding stigma experiences and social support, which were then compared across men and women participants to identify gender differences. While both men and women described experienced stigma, including verbal abuse, men's experience of stigma were subtler and women described outright rejection and instances of physical violence, including intimate partner violence. Both men and women described job discrimination, but women described severe disempowerment as well as permanent loss of income and/or employment whereas men described temporary changes in employment and /or decrease in income. Men and women described modifying behavior due to anticipated stigma, but only women discussed isolating themselves and discomfort taking HIV medication in front of others. Regarding internalized stigma, both men and women described shame, guilt, and depression over their HIV status, though these experiences were more common among women. Women's experiences prevented health care seeking and included suicidality, while men sometimes blamed women for their HIV status and expressed a desire to "move on" and "look ahead." Both men and women described receiving financial support from family and friends, community support from neighbors, governmental support, and support from other people living with HIV. Women most frequently discussed receiving support from family and friends and using religiosity to cope, whereas men referenced general family support and government benefits and were less forthcoming about personal relationships and social networks, oftentimes not disclosing HIV status to others. The social context of HIV-related stigma affects women and men differently with physical and mental health impacts and may require distinct mitigation approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alane Celeste-Villalvir
- Department of Health Promotion and Policy, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Denise D. Payan
- Department of Health, Society and Behavior, Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Gabriela Armenta
- Pardee RAND Graduate School, RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, California, United States of America
| | - Kartika Palar
- Division of HIV, ID and Global Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Amarilis Then-Paulino
- Facultad de Ciencia de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
| | - Ramón Acevedo
- Consejo Nacional para el VIH y Sida (CONAVIHSIDA), Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
| | - Maria Altagracia Fulcar
- World Food Programme, Country Office for the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
| | - Kathryn P. Derose
- Department of Health Promotion and Policy, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Behavioral and Policy Sciences Department, RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, California, United States of America
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Wallace DD, Then-Paulino A, Jiménez Paulino G, Tejada Castro F, Castro SD, Palar K, Derose KP. The co-management of HIV and chronic non-communicable diseases in the Dominican Republic: A qualitative study. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0288583. [PMID: 37440525 PMCID: PMC10343047 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
People living with HIV and a non-communicable disease (NCD) experience multi-level barriers when co-managing multiple conditions. We explored the factors affecting living with multiple chronic conditions in the Dominican Republic. We conducted 21 in-depth interviews from October 2019-February 2020 with Dominican adults who participated in a food security intervention and managed HIV and at least one chronic NCD. Using thematic analysis, we explored participant lived experiences co-managing multiple chronic conditions. All participants (mean age = 45.5 years) were linked to HIV care, but only three were linked to NCD-specific care. Individual-level barriers to managing NCDs included limited education and limited self-efficacy for self-management. Interpersonally, barriers included limited rapport building with an NCD-specific specialist. Structural barriers to managing NCDs were no health insurance, poor referral systems, and limited financial assistance. Health system adaptation requires equitably considering the needs of individuals managing multiple chronic conditions. Key factors to address include patient-provider relationships, improved referral systems, accessibility and availability of specialists, and financial assistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deshira D. Wallace
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Amarilis Then-Paulino
- Instituto de Investigación en Salud de la Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo, Alma Máter, Ciudad Universitaria, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
| | - Gipsy Jiménez Paulino
- Viceministerio de Garantía de la Calidad, Ministerio de Salud Pública, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
| | | | - Stephanie Daniela Castro
- Center for Diagnosis, Advanced Medicine, and Telemedicine (CEDIMAT), Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
| | - Kartika Palar
- Department of Medicine, Division of HIV, Infectious Disease, and Global Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Kathryn P. Derose
- Department of Health Promotion & Policy, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Behavioral and Policy Sciences, RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, California, United States of America
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Bankole AO, Gill SL, McSharry J, White CL, Aniemeke C, Wallington SF, Addo-Mensah DE, Braden CJ. Self-regulatory coping among community dwelling older adults with multiple chronic conditions. JOURNAL OF MULTIMORBIDITY AND COMORBIDITY 2023; 13:26335565231207538. [PMID: 37867622 PMCID: PMC10588418 DOI: 10.1177/26335565231207538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Objectives Many older adults with multiple chronic conditions (MCC) frequently experience hospitalizations, functional limitations, and poor quality of life. Outcomes may be improved by promoting self-regulation, which may individuals respond to health threats and manage their health conditions. The aim of this study was to describe self-regulatory coping among older adults with MCC. Methods A qualitative descriptive study using semi-structured interviews and content analysis and guided by the Common-Sense Self-Regulation Model. Seventeen community-dwelling older adults with two or more chronic conditions participated in our study. Results Three themes were developed from the analysis: (1) "I don't think about it unless something happens": coping in the absence of a health event, (2) "doing what I am supposed to do": coping during a health event, and (3) "How do I know if what I did works?": appraisal of coping success. Discussion Self-regulatory coping was influenced by individual beliefs and experiences (illness representations), context, self-efficacy and availability of support and resources to cope with MCC. These findings suggest implications for clinical practice and future self-regulation interventions for older adults with MCC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sara L. Gill
- San Antonio School of Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Jenny McSharry
- Health Behaviour Change Research Group, School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Carole L. White
- San Antonio School of Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Chidinma Aniemeke
- Health Behaviour Change Research Group, School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Sherrie Flynt Wallington
- School of Nursing and the Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Carrie Jo Braden
- San Antonio School of Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
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McCarthy M, Tao J, Lerebours A, Rodriguez C, Flanigan TP, Sanchez MC. Evaluating Barriers to Viral Suppression among People with HIV in Santiago, Dominican Republic. J Int Assoc Provid AIDS Care 2022; 21:23259582221096522. [PMID: 35532067 PMCID: PMC9092578 DOI: 10.1177/23259582221096522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The Dominican Republic (DR) has the second-highest prevalence of HIV infection in
the Caribbean, but viral suppression and treatment adherence are not well
understood. We conducted a cross-sectional study among people living with
HIV/AIDS(PLWHA) to fill in the knowledge gap. Questionnaire was used to collect
demographic data, antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, and barriers and
facilitators to HIV care. Viral load and other clinical information were
extracted through chart reviews. Descriptive analyzes and logistic regression
were conducted to explore factors associated with non-viral suppression and
imperfect ART adherence. Of 193 PLWHA 83.9% were virally suppressed. Those that
were non-virally suppressed were more likely of being male (odds ratio [OR]:
2.55, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.17-5.58) and less likely of being
unemployed (OR: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.08-0.96). However, being male (OR: 0.78, 95%
CI:0.40-1.53) and unemployed (OR: 0.28, 95% CI:0. 08-1.21) were less likely to
report imperfect adherence. Tailored interventions are needed to improve
adherence and viral suppression in DR.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jun Tao
- 12321Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Alain Lerebours
- Pontificia Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra, Santiago, DR
| | - Claudia Rodriguez
- Hospital Regional Universitario Jose Maria Cabral y Baez, Santiago, DR, Dominican Republic
| | - Timothy P Flanigan
- 12321Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.,The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Martha C Sanchez
- 12321Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.,The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
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Stonbraker S, Sanabria G, Cunto-Amesty S, Alcántara C, Abraído-Lanza AF, Rowell-Cunsolo T, Halpern M, Bakken S, Schnall R, George M. "If They Give Their Mind to HIV, They Don't Last as Long": An Explanatory Model of HIV Infection in a Limited-Resource Setting Informs Person-Centered Care. Glob Qual Nurs Res 2022; 9:23333936221097112. [PMID: 35719278 PMCID: PMC9203948 DOI: 10.1177/23333936221097112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Explanatory models describe individuals’ perceptions of their illness experiences, which can guide culturally relevant care. We constructed an explanatory model of the experience of living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the Dominican Republic. Following qualitative descriptive methodology, we conducted interviews in Spanish using a semi-structured interview guide developed using Kleinman’s explanatory model framework. Two bilingual researchers coded interview transcripts following conventional content analysis. We used deductive codes from Kleinman’s framework and inductive codes external to the framework to construct the codebook. We arranged codes by shared meaning into categories and constructed themes that reflected shared findings from inductive categories and deductive codes. Twenty-six persons living with HIV participated. They provided rich descriptions of their experiences represented by four cross-cutting themes, which informed the explanatory model. By incorporating this in-depth understanding of patients’ illness experiences into care delivery, nurses can cultivate culturally meaningful and trusting patient-centered partnerships that improve health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Stonbraker
- University of Colorado College of Nursing, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Mina Halpern
- Clínica de Familia La Romana, La Romana, Dominican Republic
| | - Suzanne Bakken
- Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Maureen George
- Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, NY, USA
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Munson AJ, Davis DA, Barrington C. 'There are no other options for us because of who we are': employment and retention in care among gay and bisexual men and transgender women living with HIV in Guatemala. CULTURE, HEALTH & SEXUALITY 2021; 23:608-623. [PMID: 32208919 DOI: 10.1080/13691058.2020.1718212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to improve understanding of the relationship between employment and retention in HIV care among gay and bisexual men and transgender women in Guatemala. We interviewed gay and bisexual men (n = 18) and transgender women (n = 9) receiving care at HIV clinics in three Guatemalan cities. Thematic coding and narrative analysis were used to describe employment experiences and identify employment factors that enabled or hindered retention within the broader context of participants' lives. Employment types ranged from formal, salaried positions to informal jobs; several participants were unemployed. Intersecting stigma related to HIV status, sexual orientation and gender identity reduced participants' ability to find and maintain stable, adequately compensated work. Job opportunities were particularly limited for transgender women due to discrimination related to gender identity. Among gay and bisexual men, discrimination related to HIV was the most salient barrier to employment. Three main employment-related determinants of retention were identified: work schedule, relationships with employers, and income. HIV care and treatment services should be strategically located and have flexible hours tailored to the employment schedules and needs of key populations living with HIV. Social protection programmes are needed to foster quality employment opportunities that facilitate attendance at HIV care appointments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra J Munson
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Dirk A Davis
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Clare Barrington
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Philpot SP, Persson A, Prestage G, Bavinton BR, Ellard J. The 'normality' of living as a gay serodiscordant couple in Sydney, Australia. SOCIOLOGY OF HEALTH & ILLNESS 2020; 42:1837-1857. [PMID: 32767697 DOI: 10.1111/1467-9566.13171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2018] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Serodiscordant couples are often understood through a discourse of HIV-risk or researched in terms of the psychological stressors they face. However, due to antiretroviral treatments people living with HIV can achieve undetectable viral loads, which not only make them non-infectious to partners, but allow them to think of their lives and relationships as safe and viable. These realisations mean that serodiscordant couples often embrace an HIV 'normalisation' discourse. In this article, we argue that this discourse of HIV 'normalisation' can overlook the more nuanced complexity of issues still faced by couples today, which reveal how their experiences of 'normal' are sometimes challenged and are not necessarily 'normal'. Utilising semi-structured interviews with 21 gay men in serodiscordant relationships in Sydney, Australia, we draw on the concept of 'home' life to explore how men engage with discourses of normalisation to describe and enact their relationships. We argue that although HIV is managed well enough to be insignificant in the context of home life, experiences or anticipation of stigma in public often remind couples that they are yet to be considered 'normal' socially.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Asha Persson
- Centre for Social Research in Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | | | - Jeanne Ellard
- Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Payán DD, Derose KP, Fulcar MA, Farías H, Palar K. "It Was as Though My Spirit Left, Like They Killed Me": The Disruptive Impact of an HIV-Positive Diagnosis among Women in the Dominican Republic. J Int Assoc Provid AIDS Care 2020; 18:2325958219849042. [PMID: 31109213 PMCID: PMC6748475 DOI: 10.1177/2325958219849042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
An HIV diagnosis may be associated with severe emotional and psychological distress,
which can contribute to delays in care or poor self-management. Few studies have explored
the emotional, psychological, and psychosocial impacts of an HIV diagnosis on women in
low-resource settings. We conducted in-depth interviews with 30 women living with HIV in
the Dominican Republic. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using
the biographical disruption framework. Three disruption phases emerged (impacts of a
diagnosis, postdiagnosis turning points, and integration). Nearly all respondents
described the news as deeply distressful and feelings of depression and loss of self-worth
were common. Several reported struggling with the decision to disclose—worrying about
stigma. Postdiagnosis turning points consisted of a focus on survival and motherhood;
social support (family members, friends, HIV community) promoted integration. The findings
suggest a need for psychological resources and social support interventions to mitigate
the negative impacts of an HIV diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise Diaz Payán
- 1 Department of Public Health, School of Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts, University of California, Merced, CA, USA.,2 RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA, USA
| | | | - María Altagracia Fulcar
- 3 United Nations World Food Programme, Dominican Republic Country Office, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
| | - Hugo Farías
- 4 United Nations World Food Programme, Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, Panamá, Dominican Republic
| | - Kartika Palar
- 5 School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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Gonzalez Rodriguez H, Wallace DD, Barrington C. Contextualizing Experiences of Diabetes-Related Stress in Rural Dominican Republic. QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH 2019; 29:857-867. [PMID: 30451066 DOI: 10.1177/1049732318807207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is changing the burden of disease across Latin America. In this formative, qualitative study, we explored experiences of T2D diagnosis and management among adults in rural Dominican Republic. We conducted 28 in-depth interviews (12 men, 16 women) and used inductive analysis to explore the emotional burden of T2D and identify coping strategies. We found that stress relating to T2D began at diagnosis and persisted throughout management. Stress was produced by concerns about healthy food and medication access, fears about illness-induced injury, and the cyclical process of experiencing stress. Participants identified diabetes care and free medication services as external stress-reducers. Internally, participants' mitigated stress by not thinking about diabetes (" no dar mente"). Our study highlights the importance of a contextualized understanding of diabetes-related stress and the need for individual, clinic, and community-level interventions to reduce stressors and improve health outcomes among adults with T2D.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Deshira D Wallace
- 1 The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Clare Barrington
- 1 The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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The Problematization of Sexuality among Women Living with HIV and a New Feminist Approach for Understanding and Enhancing Women’s Sexual Lives. SEX ROLES 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s11199-017-0826-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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