Psychosocial Concerns and Strengths of Women with HIV Infection: An Empirical Study

The authors examine the psychosocial concerns, needs, and strengths of 67 adult women living with HIV in the Philadelphia area. Personal interviews revealed that the majority of women in the study were nonwhite mothers who relied on public assistance, had a drug-abuse history, and had a T-cell count less than 500/mm. More than half reported some utilization of social services (i.e., social work case management, support groups, drug treatment). Informal supports tended to come from extended family, friends, parents, and partners. Financial concerns and housing were more often ranked as one of the three primary concerns than was HIV disease. Many respondents were able to we their HIV diagnosis to reestablish priorities, especially with regard to their parenting roles, relationships, and drug we. Implications for social services are suggested.