Challenges of People Living with HIV in Equity 
Access to Health Care

Heydari, Heshmatolah

Volume 17 - Supplement of 11th Annual Iranian Congress of Medical Ethics IJMEHM 2024, 17 - Supplement of 11th Annual Iranian Congress of Medical Ethics : 1-2 | Back to browse issues page

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Heydari H. Challenges of People Living with HIV in Equity Access to Health Care. IJMEHM 2024; 17 (S1) :1-2
URL: http://ijme.tums.ac.ir/article-1-7172-en.html

Challenges of People Living with HIV in Equity Access to Health Care

Heshmatolah Heydari ^*

Associate professor, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran

Abstract: (79 Views)

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) occurs in the final stage of infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 39.9 million people were living with HIV worldwide as of 2024, with reported global incidence and mortality rates of 1.3 million and 630,000, respectively. In Iran, the prevalence and incidence rates of HIV are reported at 54,000 and 2,400 cases, with an annual mortality rate of 3,200. Access to healthcare is considered a primary goal of the health system, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognizes the right to access health services as a common standard. However, people living with HIV, as a vulnerable group, may face barriers to accessing healthcare services. This study aims to explore the challenges faced by people living with HIV in accessing equitable healthcare. This qualitative study utilized a conventional content analysis approach, conducted between April and September 2024 in Iran. Participants included people living with HIV and healthcare providers, recruited through purposive sampling. Data were collected via 10 face-to-face interviews and analyzed using the method proposed by Lundman and Graneheim. Data analysis revealed 406 initial codes, which were then categorized based on similarities and differences into three main categories: 1) Factors related to clients (with subcategories: fear of transmitting the disease to others, poverty, physical problems, unfamiliarity with self-rights, and non-adherence to treatment regimens). 2) Factors related to the healthcare system (with subcategories: discrimination in access to health services, contemptuous attitudes from healthcare providers, incompetency of healthcare providers, fear of virus transmission, disclosure of patient information, negligence of medical centers in identifying infected people, and failure to conduct premarital tests). 3) Cultural factors (with subcategories: non-acceptance of infected people in the general culture, stigma, and discrimination in marriage and childbearing). The rights to access health services, confidentiality of information, marriage, financial protection, and participation in society should be considered essential for people living with HIV. Addressing these issues is crucial for ensuring that individuals with HIV can live with dignity and equal access to healthcare.

Keywords: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome, Health services accessibility, Equity

Full-Text [PDF 360 kb] (27 Downloads)

Type of Study: Ethics Congress | Subject: Health Ethics Congress (11th) - Poster Presentation
Received: 2026/02/24 | Revised: 2026/02/24 | Accepted: 2024/12/22 | Published: 2024/12/22