BARRIERS IN SEEKING HIV CARE SERVICES: AN INVESTIGATION OF PEOPLE INFECTED WITH HIV IN PUNJAB-PAKISTAN

Abstract

This study examined the barriers in accessing health care and level of well-being among people living with HIV/AIDS. Survey with structured interview was conducted on 420 registered HIV patients with PACP who were selected through double stage cluster sampling and convenient sampling. The results showed that majority of respondents were male and between age of 18-37 years. Common barriers to care were long distance to care, stigma and personal financial resources. Most of respondents had moderate level of overall, physical and social well-being, moderate to high level of functional and cognitive well-being, while low to moderate level of
emotional well-being. Among barriers to care, personal financial resources, and stigma significantly lowered well-being while long distance to care, and behaviour of medical staff reduced well-being very little. Personal financial resources was the strongest predictor of change in well-being.