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ABSTRACT
Agencies that deliver health care services to HIV-positive substance abusers living in rural areas of the United States face particular treatment challenges and barriers to care. Rural consumers of HIV/AIDS health care–related services identified long travel distances to medical facilities, lack of transportation, lack of availability of HIV-specific medical personnel, a shortage of mental health and substance abuse services, community stigma, and financial problems as leading barriers to access to care. This article discusses barriers to care for rural HIV-positive substance abusers, and challenges for rural health care providers. In addition, it presents a case study of Health Services Center, a model program that has devised innovative practices in the delivery of health care services to HIV-positive substance abusers in rural northeastern Alabama.
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Notes
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2001). HIV/AIDS Surveillance in Urban and Nonurban Areas, L206 slide series (through 2001).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2002). National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention. Drug-associated HIV transmission continues in the United States.
Health and Disability Working Group (2003). Case studies of innovative programs serving HIV-infected substance users. Unpublished manuscript, Boston University School of Public Health.