       Document 0977
 DOCN  M9620977
 TI    Reliance by gay men and intravenous drug users on friends and family for
       AIDS-related care.
 DT    9602
 AU    Johnston D; Stall R; Smith K; Joint Program in Medical Anthropology,
       University of California,; San Francisco, USA.
 SO    AIDS Care. 1995;7(3):307-19. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/96067999
 AB    A group of gay-identified men (n = 81) and intravenous drug users (n =
       88) diagnosed with AIDS in San Francisco were interviewed regarding
       their use of friends and family to meet their care needs. Analytic of
       quantitative data revealed that gay men relied more than did IDUs on
       friends for care. Neither group relied primarily on their families for
       care. Analysis of the qualitative data identified five primary barriers
       to care. First, many people with AIDS are not accustomed to asking for
       help and often avoid it when possible. Second, the social stigma
       surrounding AIDS sometimes leads to isolation. Third, some people with
       AIDS have kin with health problems of their own, thereby sometimes
       compromising this potential source of care. Fourth, the AIDS epidemic
       has devastated identifiable sub-populations, leaving surviving members
       of these groups emotionally exhausted and sometimes unable to provide as
       much help as they might have liked. Finally, some respondents choose to
       voluntarily cut themselves off from 'supportive' relationships that they
       perceive to be destructive now that they have been diagnosed with a
       fatal illness. Professional care providers and health care planners
       should be aware of dynamics within informal care networks of people with
       AIDS that may leave patients without necessary care.
 DE    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*PSYCHOLOGY/THERAPY  Adult
       Caregivers/*PSYCHOLOGY  Family/PSYCHOLOGY  Female  Health Services
       Accessibility  Homosexuality, Male/*PSYCHOLOGY  Human  Male  Patient
       Acceptance of Health Care  Patient Care Planning  Personality Assessment
       Prejudice  San Francisco  Sick Role  Social Isolation  *Social Support
       Substance Abuse, Intravenous/COMPLICATIONS/*PSYCHOLOGY  Support,
       Non-U.S. Gov't  Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.  JOURNAL ARTICLE

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

