Life with HIV in a suburban community: an exploration of experiences pertaining to health and social care service access

Literature examines HIV within urban or rural contexts; the suburban gradient is not sufficiently described, despite how an overwhelming proportion of Canadians live in this form of community. This inquiry investigated how people living with HIV (PLWH) in a suburban, Ontario, Canada community access health and social care services. Using hermeneutic phenomenology associated with Martin Heidegger, in-depth interviews with PLWH were conducted to understand their experience of accessing care. Thirteen co-participants were interviewed and six metathemes were identified in their experiences: fear of disclosure and stigmatization; personal and unintentional biases about HIV; isolation; transportation, cost, and time: barriers to access; flawed delivery of health care services; and inefficient, antiquated social care service delivery. These findings have implications for community-based, interprofessional health and social care services; how health and social care services are delivered; health care professional training and sensitivity to the diverse needs of PLWH; and ageing with HIV.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Health Sciences (MHSc)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Community Health

Grantor

University of Ontario Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2017

Author dc:creator

• Manis, Derek

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Gamble, Brenda

• Community-based care
• Suburban community
• Transportation
• Interprofessional care
• HIV

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10155/764

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ontariotechu.scholaris.ca:10155/764