Life with HIV in a suburban community: an exploration of experiences pertaining to health and social care service access
Date
2017-03-01
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Abstract
Literature examines HIV within urban or rural contexts; the suburban gradient is not
sufficiently described, despite how an overwhelming proportion of Canadians live in this
form of community. This inquiry investigated how people living with HIV (PLWH) in a
suburban, Ontario, Canada community access health and social care services. Using
hermeneutic phenomenology associated with Martin Heidegger, in-depth interviews with
PLWH were conducted to understand their experience of accessing care. Thirteen co-participants were interviewed and six metathemes were identified in their experiences:
fear of disclosure and stigmatization; personal and unintentional biases about HIV;
isolation; transportation, cost, and time: barriers to access; flawed delivery of health care
services; and inefficient, antiquated social care service delivery. These findings have
implications for community-based, interprofessional health and social care services; how
health and social care services are delivered; health care professional training and
sensitivity to the diverse needs of PLWH; and ageing with HIV.
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Keywords
Community-based care, Suburban community, Transportation, Interprofessional care, HIV