The advent of health-enhancing protease inhibitors and highly active antiretroviral therapy has enhanced the longevity for persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), increasing the number of PLWHA returning to employment. Based on community-based participatory research, the Photovoice method was used to identify the influences upon the employment-seeking behavior of 11 PLWHA who were unemployed and had full-time employment histories after their initial HIV/AIDS diagnosis. Through group discussion and photograph presentations, participants identified 19 factors which they grouped into five categories: (a) advantages of employment, (b) disadvantages of employment, (c) referents influencing employment decisions, (d) facilitators for employment, and (e) impediments to employment. Participants utilized these findings to develop action plans to address the employment-seeking behavior of PLWHA. The findings also suggest the utility of Photovoice to enhance employment outcomes for PLWHA.

The Helping Overcome Problems Effectively (HOPE) intervention was developed by a community-based participatory research (CBPR) partnership to improve mental health and employment outcomes of African American gay men living with HIV/AIDS. The intervention blended locally collected formative data, social cognitive theory, hope theory, and the lived experiences of African American gay men living with HIV/AIDS. The HOPE intervention included 7 weekly 3-hour group sessions, with participant assessment at baseline and 3-month post-intervention. A total of 7 African American men, who self-identified as gay and unemployed, participated. Mean age was 46.1 (range = 37-57) years. Throughout the intervention, participants developed goal-setting skills, problem-solving skills, health-promoting behaviors, and employment seeking behaviors. The results suggest that the HOPE intervention may be promising in improving mental health and employment outcomes.

Given the increased quality and length of life of persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), this study explored factors influencing the job-seeking behaviors of PLWHA, using the theory of planned behavior. We conducted six focus groups with 54 persons living with HIV/AIDS who self-identified as African American, reported receiving HIV/AIDS services at an urban AIDS service organization in metropolitan Washington, DC, and reported not being employed. Most participants reported no employment history and were not receiving public assistance. Among the findings of this study, participants reported valuing employment, identified advantages and disadvantages associated with employment while managing their HIV/AIDS prognosis, identified individuals influencing their decision to become employed, and delineated facilitators and impediments to employment. The findings identified 15 beliefs that may be key for community-based organizations and agencies to address when providing job placement services for PLWHA.

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Background Access to and engagement in high-quality HIV medical care and treatment is essential for ending the HIV epidemic. The Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) plays a critical role in ensuring that people living with diagnosed HIV (PLWH) are linked to and consistently engaged in high quality care and receive HIV medication in a timely manner. State variation in HIV prevalence, the proportion of PLWH served by the RWHAP, and local health care environments could influence the state-specific impact of the RWHAP. This analysis sought to measure the state-specific impact of the RWHAP on the HIV service delivery system and health outcomes for PLWH, and presents template language to communicate this impact for state planning and stakeholder engagement.