UCSF

Women living with HIV/AIDS are challenged to manage the symptoms of HIV/AIDS and its treatment. Peer-based interventions are one strategy that may help women living with HIV/AIDS better manage their symptoms. Peer-based interventions have the potential to enhance health equity in women with HIV/AIDS. It can improve access to health care services, provide support, improve self-efficacy and self-confidence and facilitate involvement in self-care activities. While it has not yet been used with a symptom management intervention in women, recent evidence suggests a peer intervention model may be appropriate to employ in order to change the symptom management behavior in women infected with HIV; but that evidence is needed before wide implementation of it. No studies have been located that have explored the benefits of utilizing a peer-led intervention program to help facilitate symptom self-management for HIV/AIDS in an all-female sample. Therefore, this dissertation presents three papers that address different aspects of the focus of this dissertation, Peer-Based Interventions to Increase Symptom Management in Women Living with HIV/AIDS.