Document 2036
 DOCN  M94A2036
 TI    A room with a view: an Italian self-help group for women.
 DT    9412
 AU    Carli L; Cavalli E; Cristina R; Paola M; Sonia S; Austin D; Gruppo C
       Network Italiano, Sezione di Screening HIV ULSS 25; Verona.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(1):396 (abstract no. PD0191). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94370539
 AB    OBJECTIVES: Meeting the needs of women with HIV and other women directly
       affected by the AIDS epidemic (widows, spouses and mothers of children
       with HIV) through the activation of a support and self-help group.
       METHODS: Italy has the highest percentage procapita of women with HIV
       registered in industrialised nations and is first in Europe for
       pediatric AIDS cases. In 1993, approximately 40% of new Italian AIDS
       diagnoses were among women. Many of these are young (25-30 years)
       non-drug using sexual partners of PHIV. In Vicenza, a city of 110,000
       with over 400 notified AIDS cases and a 75% HIV prevalence rate among
       IDUs in contact with drug services, a self-help group was activated to
       meet psycho-social needs of PHIV not addressed by hospital services. The
       group was comprised of PHIV, partners and family. Presence of active IDU
       created difficulties for many non-drug using women with HIV who had
       difficulty in elaborating resentment against IDUs who had transmitted
       the virus to them. The stereotypes regarding AIDS (a problem regarding
       gays, IDUs and prostitutes) made acceptance of the virus especially
       difficult for non IDU women with HIV. RESULTS: The peculiarity of many
       issues regarding women and HIV and the difficulties in addressing these
       in a mixed setting, led the women to organise seperate, more structured
       meetings to complement the activities of the open self-help group. Two
       female psychologists, one affected by HIV, stimulate discussion and
       facilitate referrals to other women specialists. The participants,
       convinced of the benefits of these bi-monthly meetings, are working on
       creating a book with personal testimonies and professional analyses.
       This will represent one of the first tools designed for Italian women
       with HIV and their carers. A bi-lingual PHIV has taken a role in
       representing the group in conferences abroad. Her linguistic skills are
       also being used to link with international networks to give more voice
       to the many women with HIV and AIDS in our country. CONCLUSIONS: As more
       women become affected by HIV, it will be necessary to develop specific
       services for them. Women's groups, born from self-help experience, can
       fill a need and provide input on how to improve care and prevention
       activities.
 DE    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/EPIDEMIOLOGY/PSYCHOLOGY/
       *REHABILITATION  Adult  Caregivers/PSYCHOLOGY  Female  Human  HIV
       Seroprevalence  Italy  Patient Care Team  Prejudice  *Self-Help Groups
       Sick Role  Social Support  Women's Health Services  MEETING ABSTRACT

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