TY - JOUR
T1 - Access to treatment and care associated with HIV infection among members of AIDS support groups in Thailand
AU - VanLandingham, Mark
AU - Im-Em, W.
AU - Yokota, F.
N1 - Funding Information:
This research is supported by grants by the United States National Institutes on Aging (Grants AG15983 and AG18648). The authors thank Som-boon Suprasert and the Thai Red Cross for their assistance in the field; Hongyun Fu for research assistance; Jiraporn Kespichayawattana for help with fieldwork logistics and the interpretation of the results and Chanpen Saengtienchai for help with the content and translation of the instrument. John Knodel provided valuable guidance and advice at all stages. Comments from the two anonymous reviewers were very helpful.
PY - 2006/10/1
Y1 - 2006/10/1
N2 - To examine the types and distributions of treatment received among persons living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHAs) in Thailand, we analyzed data collected during 2000 from 412 members of PLWHA support organizations in Bangkok and three upcountry northern provinces. Most (74%) of the respondents report ever receiving modern medical care for their HIV-related symptoms; 31% report ever using herbal treatments. Small proportions of those experiencing severe symptoms related to activity limitations report treatments with anti-retroviral medication, treatment for opportunistic infections or treatment for pain. Multivariate analysis suggests that the government's health card system plays an important role in keeping treatment costs down for PLWHAs and their families, that being open about one's HIV status to one's community is positively associated with receiving modern treatment for HIV-related ailments, that being female is negatively associated with receiving modern treatment and that living upcountry (as opposed to living in Bangkok) is associated with using herbal remedies. Policy implications of the findings are discussed.
AB - To examine the types and distributions of treatment received among persons living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHAs) in Thailand, we analyzed data collected during 2000 from 412 members of PLWHA support organizations in Bangkok and three upcountry northern provinces. Most (74%) of the respondents report ever receiving modern medical care for their HIV-related symptoms; 31% report ever using herbal treatments. Small proportions of those experiencing severe symptoms related to activity limitations report treatments with anti-retroviral medication, treatment for opportunistic infections or treatment for pain. Multivariate analysis suggests that the government's health card system plays an important role in keeping treatment costs down for PLWHAs and their families, that being open about one's HIV status to one's community is positively associated with receiving modern treatment for HIV-related ailments, that being female is negatively associated with receiving modern treatment and that living upcountry (as opposed to living in Bangkok) is associated with using herbal remedies. Policy implications of the findings are discussed.
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U2 - 10.1080/09540120500277276
DO - 10.1080/09540120500277276
M3 - Article
C2 - 16971270
AN - SCOPUS:33748709219
SN - 0954-0121
VL - 18
SP - 637
EP - 646
JO - AIDS Care - Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV
JF - AIDS Care - Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV
IS - 7
ER -
