Keeping At-Risk Persons Living with HIV/AIDS in Care: A Qualitative Study of Staff Perspectives

Abstract

Engaging and retaining persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in medical care is essential to ensure disease management and successful health outcomes. This article summarizes the results of a qualitative study of 21 staff members from seven programs aimed to engage and retain at-risk PLWHA in HIV medical care. The data revealed five domains of services provided and skills delivered: 1. finding people, 2. delivering services and practical support, 3. assistance with systems navigation and linking to services, 4. providing HIV education and information, and 5. relationship-building. These activities were implemented within a framework of client-centered care and teamwork. These findings can assist program planners and service providers with approaches to enhance staff skills that lead to better quality and service delivery for at-risk PLWHA individuals.

KEYWORDS:

• health care services
• HIV
• medical care
• qualitative study
• vulnerable populations

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by grant H97HA00191-05-07 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration. This grant was funded through the HIV/AIDS Bureau's Special Project of National Significance Program. The contents of this publication are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the funding agencies or the U.S. government.