Providers and advocates alike have long been concerned by studies showing that women are significantly less likely than men to be receiving the best available HIV therapies. It is therefore important that the health care experiences of women with HIV be understood, including patient satisfaction, which has been shown to be both a predictor and outcome of treatment and services utilization. This analysis examined longitudinal data from a multicenter cohort study of women with HIV in the U.S., including satisfaction with care and utilization of antiretroviral therapy (ART) over 6 years (1994 - 1999) (N=2,021). Over time, overall satisfaction levels increased significantly (p<.001), as did utilization of ART (p<.001). Longitudinal random effects modeling showed that women on ART were significantly more satisfied with care than women using no ART (p <.05) across all time points. Between the first and third year of study participation, the slope of the increase in mean satisfaction was equivalent for both groups. In later study years, coinciding with the widespread introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), there was a significant time by treatment interaction (p<.05), in which the increase in satisfaction with care among the non-ART group leveled off, while continuing to rise among women taking ART. These results indicate that in the era of HAART, it is increasingly less acceptable to women with HIV not to be on therapy. Characteristics of these women and differences in their satisfaction with care will be described in terms of explaining non-use of ART and other services.
Learning Objectives: N/A
Keywords: Women and HIV/AIDS, Treatment
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