HIV/AIDS-related services for women and the rural community context

Abstract

Rural communities present a different context for HIV/AIDS than urban communities, particularly for women. Theory, research and care and prevention practices for women in urban contexts are not necessarily easily applied to women in rural communities. This paper identifies several important characteristics of the rural community context and discusses how they may impact the development of HIV/AIDS-related care and prevention services for women. A social ecological perspective, with its emphasis on the relationship between individual-level behaviour and experience and different levels of the social environment, is presented as a useful approach to the study of the HIV/AIDS care and prevention service needs of rural women. Finally, recommendations for research are provided, consistent with a social ecological perspective, that can address the current lack of information regarding rural women's HIV/AIDS care and prevention service needs.