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Researchers from Case Western
Reserve University (CWRU) and the University of California at San Francisco
reported that having a job helped HIV-infected women maintain a health routine
that included taking medications on schedule, keeping medical appointments,
eating a healthy diet, and exercising regularly. Those who succeeded with
self-management tasks such as these had a better chance of living a normal life
span.
Allison Webel, lead author and
assistant professor of nursing at CWRU’s Francis Payne Bolton School of
Nursing, stated that positive employment aspects included the routine of a work
schedule, additional income and benefits, and emotional support. Webel also
noted that employment gave the HIV-infected women a sense of contributing to
the world outside their homes.
Study authors surveyed 260
HIV-infected women about social resources to identify factors that helped
participants with self-management. Average age of respondents was 46; a large
proportion comprised mothers and African Americans. Many of the HIV-infected
women had limited financial resources or were homeless and juggled many
different responsibilities, which made maintaining a healthy routine more
difficult. Although it was not clear why, African-American women were more
successful in self-managing health than other ethnic groups.
In the past, many HIV-infected women
quit work to focus on their health. However, newer antiretroviral therapies
have become more effective in preventing HIV from progressing to AIDS and in
delaying HIV-related illnesses, which has enabled HIV-infected women to stay in
the workforce. The study authors recommended establishing training programs to
help HIV-infected women find and hold jobs. Additional research into
microenterprises might also suggest ways to help HIV-infected women generate
income for necessities such as food and housing.
The full report, “The Impact of Social
Context on Self-Management in Women Living with HIV,” was published online in
the journal Social Science & Medicine (2013;
doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2013.03.037).
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus.
To learn more about The Friends of
AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
