HIV patient access to healthcare services in post-austerity era in Greece
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 6150973 |
|---|---|
| Authors | George Tsiakalakis (University of Peloponnese), Christina Golna, Nikos Dedes (Greek Association of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders), George Papageorgiou (0000-0003-3288-6419, University of West Attica), Kostas Athanasakis (0000-0002-1024-3802, University of West Attica), Kyriakos Souliotis (0000-0003-1624-9444, University of Peloponnese) |
| Year | 2021 |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue | 5 |
| Pages | 403-410 |
| Publication date | 2021-06-18 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2056-4902 • E-ISSN: 2056-4910 |
| Publisher | Emerald Publishing Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1108/ijhrh-10-2020-0092 |
| OpenAlex | W3176205391 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
| References cited | 17 |
Purpose The ten-year economic crisis and the ensuing fiscal adjustment that Greece experienced between 2009 and 2018 has had a major impact on patient access to health-care services and resulted in an increase in unmet population health needs. The present study aims to assess the impact of economic crisis and ensuing austerity on HIV patient access to health-care services. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional study was carried out between February and April 2019 to assess barriers in access to HIV care faced by people living with HIV. A total of 329 HIV positive individuals participated in the study. An online, self-reporting questionnaire was developed and adapted to the specific clinical and societal characteristics of HIV. Findings A total of 94.2% of respondents were male and 67.80% lived in Athens. Most of them were diagnosed with HIV-1 10 years ago. Out of the total respondents, 37.40% reported obstacles in accessing HIV care over the past year. A total of 24.30% reported they were not tested for viral load in the past six months and received a result. Individuals, who self-evaluate their financial status as very bad or bad, were more likely to be unaware of their viral load (55.60%) than those with better financial status (33.5%) (P < 0.01). Only 33.3% of uninsured participants were aware of their viral load, and this figure rose to 63.30% (P <0.01) amongst insured participants. Originality/value The ten-year economic crisis that Greece experienced in the period 2009–2018 had significant effects on the quality of services of the National Health System. This study attempts to fill the research gap regarding the impact of one of the severest economic crises during the past century with complex social extensions, in one of the most vulnerable patient groups. In this context, the study assesses barriers to access to optimal care of people living with HIV in Greece after a decade of austerity and the variables that impact on such access
Austerity · Economic growth · Economics · Environmental health · Family medicine · Health care · Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV · Political science · Population · Sociology · Viral load · Demography · Employment and Welfare Studies · Global Health Care Issues · Medicine · Social Policy and Reform Studies
Financial crisis, austerity, and health in Europe
Risk of HIV transmission through condomless sex in serodifferent gay couples with the HIV-positive partner taking suppressive antiretroviral therapy (PARTNER)
The Therapeutic Implications of Timely Linkage and Early Retention in HIV Care
Linkage and retention in care and the time to HIV viral suppression and viral rebound – New York City
Access to treatment for Hepatitis C among injection drug users
Barriers in access to healthcare services for chronic patients in times of austerity
| Citations per year | 0.5 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2022 - 2026 (5) |
| Highly cited | No |