Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, México.
Cad Saude Publica. 2022 Oct 24;38(9):e00007922. doi: 10.1590/0102-311XEN007922. eCollection 2022.
Self-help groups (SHGs) for people living with HIV (PLHIV) are organizations created by the community to provide individuals with security, affection, improved self-esteem, and a sense of belonging. However, SHGs have also been used by the government to help implement HIV control policies. This study aimed to identify the characteristics associated with the use of SHGs by PLHIV and the routes and displacement patterns adopted by users. An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted based on data collected in six Central American countries during 2012. Using a list of SHGs, a random sampling was conducted in two stages. Firstly, the SHGs were selected. Then, the selected SHGs were visited and every third user who attended the SHG was surveyed. Logistic regression models were used to identify the characteristics associated with the use of SHGs and with attending the nearest SHGs. A spatial analysis was performed to identify the routes followed by users to reach the SHGs from their home communities. We found that the characteristics significantly associated with higher odds of SHG usage were country of residence and schooling level. The average and median distances traveled by users to attend SHGs were 20 and 5 kilometers, respectively. PLHIV do not use the SHGs closest to their locality, perhaps for fear of stigma and discrimination. We recommend that research on this topic use a mixed qualitative-quantitative methodology to better understand utilization decisions, user expectations, and the degree to which these are being met.
自助小组（SHGs）是由社区创建的组织，旨在为艾滋病毒感染者（PLHIV）提供安全、情感支持、自尊心提升和归属感。然而，SHGs 也被政府用来帮助实施艾滋病毒控制政策。本研究旨在确定与 PLHIV 使用 SHGs 相关的特征，以及用户采用的途径和流动模式。这是一项基于 2012 年在六个中美洲国家收集的数据进行的分析性横断面研究。采用 SHGs 清单，通过两阶段随机抽样进行。首先，选择 SHGs；然后，访问选定的 SHGs，并对参加 SHG 的每三个用户进行调查。使用逻辑回归模型来确定与使用 SHGs 和参加最近的 SHGs 相关的特征。进行空间分析以确定用户从其所在社区到达 SHGs 的途径。我们发现，与更高的 SHG 使用几率相关的特征是居住国家和教育水平。用户前往参加 SHGs 的平均和中位数距离分别为 20 公里和 5 公里。PLHIV 没有使用离他们所在地最近的 SHGs，可能是因为担心受到污名化和歧视。我们建议，针对这一主题的研究采用混合定性和定量方法，以更好地理解利用决策、用户期望以及这些期望的实现程度。
