Increasing access to care and improving health outcomes for people living with HIV are cornerstones of the President’s National HIV/AIDS Strategy. Extant data suggests that timely initiation of and sustained adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) can reduce HIV transmission by more than 90 percent. However, only one in four HIV positive people in the U.S. make it through the entire HIV care continuum (diagnosis, linkage to care, retention in care, ART initiation and adherence) to achieve this goal. In San Diego, an estimated 57 percent of HIV-positive women are not accessing care. Peer Navigation services have helped HIV-positive patients better negotiate their care. However, evidence suggests drawing support from one’s social network may further strengthen patients’ care negotiation.

In collaboration with local San Diego agencies, the goal of this mixed-methods study is to elicit barriers HIV-positive women face across the HIV care continuum and how Peer Navigation services and social support networks can be enhanced to improve outcomes. Data will be used to provide recommendations to enhance current services provided by “Coordinated HIV Assistance and Navigation for Growth and Empowerment (CHANGE) for Women”. By assuring that women living with HIV have access to the services they need for timely initiation of and sustained adherence to antiretroviral therapy, treated individuals will experience reduced morbidity and mortality, and HIV transmission could be reduced by more than 90 percent, benefiting sexual partners, and the greater community.