AEGiS-07IAC: The rejection/denial syndrome re heterosexual women with AIDS.

7th International AIDS Conference


Florence, Italy — June 16-21, 1991

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The rejection/denial syndrome re heterosexual women with AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS 1991 Jun 16-21; 7:461 (abstract no. W.D.4292)
Donnan K;

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate, through subjective and objective case histories, the obstacles facing North American heterosexual women who have AIDS, or are perceived as having AIDS.

METHODS: Personal experience; intense, fulltime experience counselling AIDS patients and their families; speaking/lecturing and dealing with media widely in North America.

RESULTS: Both as a heterosexual woman "perceived as having AIDS" and as a speaker, media consultant and professional counsellor, Ms. Donnan has developed broad and detailed evidence of the failures, for women, of the care delivery system. Specifically, and as examples, the wide gaps in social, economic and health care systems necessary for: 1) Awareness of risks. 2) Access to anonymous testing. 3) Access to clinical trials. 4) Availability of essential support services, including child care. 5) Access to a personal support network or community [as is the case with AIDS patients in the gay community]. 6) Availability of counselling and support on legal and social/ethical issues facing women in the community and the workforce. 7) Access to health care professionals equipped to deliver adequate AIDS diagnostic, care, treatment and trials services. 8) Access to full data on the symptomology of AIDS in heterosexual women from those in the educational system and the health care delivery industry.

CONCLUSIONS: North American heterosexual women with AIDS often go undiagnosed, usually lack access to adequate information, support and treatment. Needless suffering and the accelerated onset of mortality from AIDS in women, seem a clear consequence of these failures.

Keywords: AEGIS, Heterosexuality, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Counseling, Health Services Accessibility, Social Support, Delivery of Health Care, North America, Human, Female, Child, ICA7KWDaegis,heterosexuality,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,counseling,healthservicesaccessibility,socialsupport,deliveryofhealthcare,northamerica,human,female,child,ica7
910616
WD4292

Copyright © 1991 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.