Working with Women and AIDS: Medical, Counselling and Social Issues

Women now account for one third of the ten million people with HIV infection worldwide. Yet until very recently most services were geared towards men, and doctors and other professionals were often unprepared for the particular issues that women would raise. Working with Women and AIDS provides a unique and readable combination of up-to-date medical information, a discussion of social issues, personal accounts and practical advice about ways of working with women affected by HIV and AIDS. Written by people working in the field, the book explores issues such as contraception, pregnancy and prostitution, which are of central concern to those involved in the care of the increasing number of women affected by HIV infection and AIDS. Women now account for one-third of the ten million people with the HIV infection worldwide. On World AIDS Day in December 1990, the World Health Organization estimated that three million women are currently HIV infected and are expected to die by the year 2000. Yet women have found that the information available often does not apply to them, that most services are geared towards men, and that doctors and other professionals are often unprepared for the particular issues that women raise. Working with Women and AIDS fills this important gap by addressing a number of questions of relevance to those working with women. Are women more likely to be infected heterosexually than men? What are the implications for childbearing? What have been the effects for women working in the sex industry? And do women with the HIV infection have different emotional needs from men? This book brings medical and social issues for women to the forefront, highlighting the knowledge and experienceof medical experts, and of professionals involved in the support and advocacy for women with HIV, and on the important aspect of education and counselling Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 List of tables and figures......Page 10 Notes on contributors......Page 11 Foreword by Margaret Jay......Page 14 Acknowledgements......Page 16 Introduction......Page 18 Women and the AIDS epidemic: some medical facts and figures......Page 26 Social issues: an overview......Page 40 Reflections on women and HIV/AIDS in New York City and the United States......Page 49 Pregnancy, heterosexual transmission and contraception......Page 60 Pregnancy and HIV: screening, counselling and services......Page 75 HIV and the sex industry......Page 88 Developing a service for prostitutes in Glasgow......Page 102 Education and the prevention of HIV infection......Page 116 Offering safer sex counselling to women from drug-using communities......Page 127 Women as carers......Page 134 Feelings and needs of women who are HIV positive......Page 142 Being positive......Page 152 Poems......Page 159 Name index......Page 163 Subject index......Page 165 Women And The Aids Epidemic: Some Medical Facts And Figures / Judy Bury -- Social Issues: An Overview / Joy Barlow -- Reflections On Women And Hiv/aids In New York City And The United States / Edith Springer -- Pregnancy, Heterosexual Transmission And Contraception / Judy Bury -- Pregnancy And Hiv: Screening, Counselling And Services / Mary Hepburn -- Hiv And The Sex Industry / Ruth Morgan Thomas -- Developing A Service For Prostitutes In Glasgow / Netta Maciver -- Education And The Prevention Of Hiv Infection / Judy Bury -- Offering Safer Sex Counselling To Women From Drug-using Communities / Jane Wilson -- Women As Carers / Jane Wilson -- Feelings And Needs Of Women Who Are Hiv Positive / Kate Bisset And Jennifer Gray -- Being Positive / Kate Thomson -- Poems / Ruth Gilfillan. Edited By Judy Bury, Val Morrison, And Sheena Mclachlan ; Foreword By Margaret Jay. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. On World AIDS Day in December 1990 the World Health Organisation estimated that 'three million women are currently HIV infected and are expected to die by the year 2000' (World Health Organisation 1990).