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Heshmatolah Heydari,
Volume 17, Issue 0 (12-2024)
Abstract

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a disease that 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 in 2024, with an incidence rate of 1.3 million and a mortality rate of 630,000 globally. In Iran, the prevalence and incidence rates of HIV were reported as 54,000 and 2,400 people, respectively, with a mortality rate of 3,200 annually. Access to healthcare is considered one of the key goals of a health system. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognizes the right to health services as a common standard. 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 was conducted using a conventional content analysis approach between April and September 2024 in Iran. Participants included people living with HIV and healthcare providers, who were recruited through purposive sampling. Data were collected through 10 face-to-face interviews and analyzed using the method proposed by Lundman and Graneheim. From the data analysis, 406 initial codes were extracted. These codes were then grouped 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 their rights, and non-adherence to treatment regimens)
2.Factors related to the healthcare system (with subcategories: discrimination in accessing healthcare services, contemptuous attitudes of healthcare providers, incompetency of healthcare providers, fear of infection by the virus, disclosure of patient information, negligence by medical centers in identifying infected individuals, and failure to conduct premarital testing)
3.Cultural factors (with subcategories: non-acceptance of infected individuals in society, stigma, and discrimination in marriage and childbearing).
The right to access healthcare services, confidentiality of information, the right to marry, financial protection, and active participation in society should be prioritized for people living with HIV.

Heshmatolah Heydari,
Volume 17, Issue 0 (12-2024)
Abstract

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.


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