Characteristics of People Living With HIV Who Use Community-Based Services in Ontario, Canada: Implications for Service Providers

Abstract

Community-based AIDS service organizations (CBAOs) direct services to multiple-needs people living with HIV/AIDS who are less likely to use mainstream health promotion services. As people live longer with HIV, the potential to enhance quality of life increases, yet little is known about who uses CBAOs or how this use affects other health and social services. This study of people living with AIDS in Ontario, Canada (n = 297) examined the demographic and health-related characteristics of people with AIDS who do and do not use CBAOs and their patterns of mainstream service utilization. It found that users of CBAOs were significantly less healthy, less able to sustain normal activities, and more often depressed. They reported physical disabilities significantly more often. Their quality of life was also lower along certain dimensions. They were significantly poorer and more reliant on government income supports. They consumed significantly more nonhospital health and social services and had significantly higher out-of-pocket costs. These results suggest CBAOs are being accessed appropriately by those most vulnerable. In an effort to strengthen CBAO capacity to recognize and address depression and physical health problems prevalent among their clients, links to other mainstream health promotion and social services is recommended.

Examining transdiagnostic vulnerabilities among HIV positive smokers seen at three inner city community based organizations

“…This study’s observed prevalence of clinically significant depressive symptoms was comparable to a sample of PLWHA who attended community-based AIDS service organizations in Ontario, Canada (Williams, Narciso, Browne, et al, 2005). Given the elevated prevalence of depression in PLWHA, and more so among PLWHA smokers and in PLWHA using community-based services, these findings would be expected (Williams, et al, 2005).…”

“…Given the elevated prevalence of depression in PLWHA, and more so among PLWHA smokers and in PLWHA using community-based services, these findings would be expected (Williams, et al, 2005). …”

Housing Characteristics and their Influence on Health-Related Quality of Life in Persons Living with HIV in Ontario, Canada: Results from the Positive Spaces, Healthy Places Study

“…First, our study participants are primarily individuals affiliated with or receiving services from community-based AIDS service organizations, which limits the generalizability of our findings to those accessing these services. Individuals receiving services from community-based AIDS service organizations, for example, are more likely to report physical disability, difficulty sustaining normal activities, being depressed and poor HRQOL compared to those who do not receive services from these providers [46]. Second, participants who completed the 1-year follow-up were less likely to: be homeless or inadequately housed, report a history of homelessness, to move frequently, and report a history of incarceration at baseline than those who were lost-to-follow-up.…”

The Heart in Haart: Quality of Life of Patients Enrolled in the Public Sector Antiretroviral Treatment Programme in the Free State Province of South Africa

“…10 3.3. Access and Support Available from within the Health Care Sector Messeri et al (2002) and Williams et al (2005) are of the opinion that access to ancillary services may be particularly important in supporting frontline medical care provided to persons living with HIV and in enhancing the QOL of PLWA. SHC i represents a vector of binary variables representing care and support available to individual i within the health care sector, both directly related to the ART programme, but also to the broader health care sector.…”