Vietnamese Women's Struggle to Access Antiretroviral Drugs in a Context of Free Treatment

TY - JOUR

T1 - Vietnamese Women's Struggle to Access Antiretroviral Drugs in a Context of Free Treatment

AU - Nguyen, Nam Thi Thu

AU - Rasch, Vibeke

AU - Bygbjerg, Ib Christian

AU - Mogensen, Hanne Overgaard

PY - 2013/3

Y1 - 2013/3

N2 - This qualitative study aims to explore how HIV positive women living in a northern province of Vietnam experience seeking antiretroviral (ARV) treatment in the public health system, and how they address obstacles encountered along the way. Despite the fact that antiretroviral drugs were freely provided, they were not always accessible for women in need. A variety of factors at the population and health system level interacted in ways that often made access to ARV drugs a complicated and time-consuming process. We have suggested changes that could be made at the health system level that may help facilitate women's ability to access treatment.

AB - This qualitative study aims to explore how HIV positive women living in a northern province of Vietnam experience seeking antiretroviral (ARV) treatment in the public health system, and how they address obstacles encountered along the way. Despite the fact that antiretroviral drugs were freely provided, they were not always accessible for women in need. A variety of factors at the population and health system level interacted in ways that often made access to ARV drugs a complicated and time-consuming process. We have suggested changes that could be made at the health system level that may help facilitate women's ability to access treatment.

U2 - 10.1080/07399332.2012.755979

DO - 10.1080/07399332.2012.755979

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 23394322

SN - 0739-9332

VL - 34

SP - 209

EP - 226

JO - Health Care for Women International

JF - Health Care for Women International

ER -