HIV INFECTED WOMEN AND WOMEN'S SERVICES

HIV/AIDS is increasing faster in women than any other segment in the population. The typical woman who is HIV infected is young, poor, a minority, and in the childbearing stage of life. Only 1 study was found that explored medical services in relation to usage and cost by men and women infected with HIV (F. J. Hellinger, 1993). The purpose of this study was to examine the types of services and the groupings of those services within facilities that were offered for women who were HIV positive. Seventeen of the 28 facilities (61%) that provide care to this population responded to a telephone survey. The research suggests that care for women who are HIV positive is fragmented, and there are access barriers to care and support. Many services that are especially important to HIV-infected women were not found or were not made available by many facilities.