Document 2764
 DOCN  M94A2764
 TI    The role of self-help groups and peer support networks for women with
       HIV/AIDS.
 DT    9412
 AU    Greet B
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(1):23 (abstract no. 065D). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94369811
 AB    Women with HIV/AIDS are faced with greater social problems than men with
       the same disease. Women with HIV/AIDS face isolation from society
       generally and also from other women with HIV. The issues that confront
       us are not addressed as we do not speak with a common voice and the
       services available have been constructed to meet the needs of the
       perceived male population of infected people. The establishment of
       Positive Women Vic in 1988 provided some answers to these problems.
       Closed meetings allowed the women to meet in a secure environment and
       the interactions that occurred have led to an increased awareness of the
       need of women with HIV/AIDS amongst health care providers and the larger
       community. Without this increased awareness change could not occur. We
       have achieved media recognition representation on Government boards and
       committees concerning both policy and treatment issues. By remaining
       independent we have forged a clear identity for infected women for the
       first time. I propose to outline the steps that we took to achieve these
       goals and the need for the cooperation of health care providers to
       enable it to develop.
 DE    Female  Health Policy  Health Services Needs and Demand  Human  HIV
       Infections/*PSYCHOLOGY  *Peer Group  *Self-Help Groups  Social Isolation
       *Social Support  Victoria  Women/*PSYCHOLOGY  MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).