Findings from previous research demonstrates that signing deaf people may not readily have access to information about HIV/AIDS and may therefore be at greater risk for HIV infection than hearing people. Woodroffe, Gorenflo, Meador and Zazove (1998) found that deaf and hard-of-hearing participants in their study were less likely to be exposed to information about HIV/AIDS, less likely to trust information that they had received about HIV/AIDS, and had less overall knowledge about HIV/AIDS than hearing participants. The lack of knowledge about the disease may result in deaf people who are infected with HIV not seeking medical care until they are seriously ill (Van Biema, 1994). Quality of care may be further compromised by the ability of medical care facilities to accommodate their needs by the provision of interpreters or assistive listening devices. In light of the paucity of such research, qualitative data from in-depth interviews and focus groups were generated in order to: 1) document barriers to primary care services for those deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals with HIV/AIDS, and 2) examine the accessibility of HIV prevention/education information for the general deaf and hard-of-hearing population, especially for those individuals who may be at greater risk for HIV infection. This paper will examine the intersection of multiple levels of barriers for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals regarding HIV/AIDS – the individual level (emotional/psychological factors), the institutional level of service providers, and the community-level (for both the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities and the community of people living with HIV/AIDS).
Learning Objectives: The presenter will discuss qualitative data and will examine the intersection of multiple levels of barriers for deaf and hard of hearing individuals regarding HIV/AIDS – individual level barriers, institutional level barriers and community level barriers
Keywords: Deaf, HIV/AIDS
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.