AEGiS-14IAC: How to get women of color to participate in their care.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

How to get women of color to participate in their care.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no.. C10745)

Robinson DL
AIDS Resource Center, Dallas, United States

ISSUES: Women of color often overlook themselves and focus on the needs of their partners, children and other family members. When it comes to HIV, even a HIV+ diagnosis does not prompt them to make changes or seek information to learn how to deal with their health.

DESCRIPTION: To meet the needs of this population, a group was created by the name of At the Kitchen Table. Thename was chosen because it is one of the traditional places where women have always gathered to have opend discussions. The purpose of the group has been to foster relationships among women while providing tools to help them navigate their HIV. The group has two main components. They are a social component and an educational component. The social component provides the women an opportunity to practice their social skills in an environment where HIV does not have to be hidden. We meet over lunch in a central location, because this is the time of day when most of the women are available. The meal is provided by a local restaurant or our community center cafeteria so there is no charge to the women. The educational component is also offered over lunch. The women are taught the basic structure of HIV in simple language, how the medications work, what services are available and how to access them, the different opportunistic infections that they may be at risk for along with the unique manifestations for women. The group meets for 2hrs every other Tuesday.

ISSUES: It takes time and patience to organize this type of group. You have to be creative and allow the women to participate in the process. Always put the needs of the women first. Teach at their pace and they will learn. Encourage them and they will learn.

RECOMMENDATIONS: The structure of this group is simple and can be adapted for other populations. I would like to see other providers use the At the Kitchen Table model to organize women in their areas.

Keywords: AEGIS, Health Services Needs and Demand, HIV Infections, HIV Seropositivity, Family, Adult, Human, Female, Child

020707
C10745