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As a positive woman, how do you try to stay healthy? What barriers do you face in trying to access medication? In 2006, ICW mapped positive women's experiences of access to care, treatment and support in three countries - Tanzania, Kenya and Namibia. Treatment is meant to be free in all three countries, yet focus group discussions with HIV positive women and health care workers revealed a number of factors that negate women's ability to access and use antiretrovirals (ARVs) to improve their health.

Partner control can make it impossible for women to access health services. Partners may refuse to let women go to the hospital or deny them the money for treatment. In other cases women faced pressure from partners to share their medications with them. Having to bribe health care workers to ensure access to care, treatment and support was reported by all focus groups. Other problems included the financial and time costs of travelling to clinics or health centres; lack of confidentiality; unavailability of treatment; and poor nutrition leading to ill-health, problems with adherence, and pressure to sell medications. Changes needed to improve treatment, care and support include better transport services, health services near villages, income generation opportunities, and improved nutrition.

[Summary adapted from Siyanda www.siyanda.org]

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