Bauken S, Lima RM, de Marco A, Zuim GC, Malta M; International Conference on AIDS (15th : 2004 : Bangkok, Thailand).
Int Conf AIDS. 2004 Jul 11-16; 15: abstract no. WePeE6691.
CEPADA - Centro de Estudos, Pesquisa e Atencao a Drogas e Aids, Foz do Iguacu, Brazil
Issue: We assessed patterns of HIV care attendance by HIV+ women who use crack-cocaine in Foz do Iguacu, Southern Brazil. Foz do Iguacu is a municipality with a triple frontier (Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina), being an important drug traffic route and prostitution scene is high (probably rising). In Foz do Iguacu there is a strong link between traffic, sex-for-crack exchanges, prostitution, and rates of HIV among crack-dependent women. Description: In-depth interviews were conducted with 10 HIV+ crack-dependent women, and 10 key informants (health providers and police makers). HIV+ crack-dependent women were engaged in commercial sex, were 20-35y old, had low education, were homeless or live in slums. Interview topics included sexual/drug behavior; knowledge, attitudes and beliefs regarding HIV-infection, and access to health treatment. Two focus groups with crack-users CSWs and several field observations were also conducted, in order to confirm and enhance initial findings. Lesson learned: All HIV+ participants had daily difficulties to access and adhere to HIV treatment, and none were engaged in HAART. A combination of individual and services characteristics compromise the utilization of HIV-related health care. Individual barriers: "chaotic" participants lifestyles, inadequate knowledge and/or negative beliefs about HIV/AIDS and ARV effectiveness. Health system barriers: services are not opened after hours, are not user-friendly and didn't provide psycho-social support. Recommendations: These findings suggest the need to develop, implement, and evaluate intervention strategies to improve the use of HIV medical care by HIV+ female crack-users. It is crucial to implement low-threshold and user friendly approaches, targeting HIV+ female crack-users multiple needs. NGOs and community based organizations are key actors to reach and maintain this population into HIV treatment and care. Study funded by Brazilian Ministry of Health, CDC, and UNESCO
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- AIDS Vaccines
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Crack Cocaine
- Female
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Health Services Needs and Demand
- Hearing
- Humans
- Paraguay
- Poverty Areas
- Prostitution
- utilization
Other ID:
UI: 102284606
From Meeting Abstracts