Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-23-2019
Publication Title
Journal of the International Providers of AIDS Care (JIAPAC)
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Volume
18
First page number:
1
Last page number:
8
Abstract
Background: HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders and other causes of neurocognitive challenges experienced by people living with HIV (PLWH) persist as public health concerns in developed countries. Consequently, PLWH who experience neurocognitive challenges increasingly require social support and mental health services from community-based providers in the HIV sector. Methods: Thirty-three providers from 22 AIDS service organizations across Ontario, Canada, were interviewed to determine the strategies they used to support PLWH experiencing neurocognitive difficulties. Thematic analysis was conducted to determine key themes from the interview data. Results: Three types of strategies were identified: (a) intrapersonal, (b) interpersonal, and (c) organizational. Intrapersonal strategies involved learning and staying informed about causes of neurocognitive challenges. Interpersonal strategies included providing practical assistance, information, counseling, and/or referrals to PLWH. Organizational strategies included creating dedicated support groups for PLWH experiencing neurocognitive challenges, partnering with other organizations with services not available within their own organization, and advocating for greater access to services with expertise and experience working with PLWH. Conclusion: Through concerted efforts in the future, it is likely that empirically investigating, developing, and customizing these strategies specifically to address HIV-associated neurocognitive challenges will yield improved social support and mental health outcomes for PLWH.
Keywords
HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders; Community-based research; Service providers; Strategies; Social support; Mental health
Disciplines
Community Psychology | Health Services Research | Virus Diseases
File Format
File Size
205 KB
Language
English
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Repository Citation
Liboro, R. M.,
Rourke, S. B.,
Ibanez-Carrasco, F.,
Easton, A.,
Pugh, D.,
Medina, C.,
Rae, A.,
Shuper, P. A.,
Ross, L. E.
(2019).
Strategies Employed by Community-Based Service Providers to Address HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Challenges: A Qualitative Study.
Journal of the International Providers of AIDS Care (JIAPAC), 18
1-8.
SAGE Publications.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/2325958218822336