Table 1.
Barriers to Care Reported by Women of Color Living with HIV and Attending an Academic Infectious Diseases Clinic (N=164)
| Barriers to Care | No problem at all N (%) | Very slight problem N (%) | Somewhat of a problem N (%) | Major problems N (%) | Missing N (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The shortage of psychologists, social workers, and mental health counselors who can help me address mental health issues | 129 (82%) | 14 (9%) | 9 (6%) | 6 (4%) | 6 (4%) |
| The lack of psychological support groups for persons living with HIV or AIDS | 120 (75%) | 21 (13%) | 10 (6%) | 10 (6%) | 2 (2%) |
| Long distances to medical facilities and personnel | 111 (68%) | 18 (11) | 27 (16%) | 8 (5%) | 0 (0%) |
| The lack of transportation to access services I need | 120 (73%) | 17 (10%) | 16 (10%) | 11 (7%) | 0 (0%) |
| The lack of employment opportunities for people living with HIV or AIDS | 87 (55%) | 14 (9%) | 37 (24%) | 19 (12%) | 7 (4%) |
| The lack of supportive and understanding work environments for people living with HIV or AIDS | 77 (50%) | 16 (10%) | 38 (25%) | 24 (15%) | 9 (5%) |
| Lack of adequate and affordable housing | 91 (56%) | 23 (14%) | 28 (17%) | 20 (12%) | 2 (1%) |
| Breaches of confidentiality | 105 (64%) | 17 (10%) | 19 (12%) | 23 (14%) | 0 (0%) |
| The level of knowledge about HIV or AIDS among people in the community | 91 (56%) | 14 (9%) | 33 (20%) | 24 (15%) | 2 (1%) |
| My personal financial resources | 73 (45%) | 22 (13%) | 39 (24%) | 30 (18%) | 0 (0%) |
| Community residents' stigma against persons living with HIV or AIDS | 71 (44%) | 26 (16%) | 31 (19%) | 35 (21%) | 1 (1%) |