Released December 2, 2019
The Well Project is thrilled to announce that our 2018-2019 survey, Together We Are…Making an Impact is now available. This is the latest in a series of surveys that The Well Project undertakes to ensure that we are maximizing our effectiveness and strengthening the impact of our programming. Please read our press release, Survey Finds Community Support and Education are Key to Improving Health Outcomes and Well-Being of Women Living with HIV.
Together We Are…Making an Impact shows that women living with HIV have made significant progress in some areas but continue to face numerous obstacles. Nearly all participating women living with HIV are engaged in HIV care, taking effective HIV medications, and experiencing viral suppression, yet they face high levels of stigma, violence and trauma, and behavioral health issues, all of which complicate their ability to manage their HIV.
The survey demonstrates that The Well Project's unique resources are having a positive impact on many of the challenges women living with HIV face in their daily lives:
Together We Are…Making an Impact shows that The Well Project strongly increases knowledge and engagement in care, self-care, outlook on living with HIV, connecting women to one another, and helping them develop advocacy skills. Ultimately, these efforts are improving health outcomes and the well-being of women living with HIV.
The survey demonstrates The Well Project's cultural competency: 98% of respondents overall and 100% of transwomen agreed that "The Well Project recognizes and respects the cultural differences among its users, making its resources inclusive, equitable, and culturally responsive."
The survey also clarifies the need to expand how we think about optimal outcomes beyond viral suppression to include measures of women's broader health and quality of life.
Infographics: Featured Survey Findings
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POSITIVE FEEDBACK ABOUT THE WELL PROJECT
"I am so glad that The Well Project is doing research on women's health with HIV, since for many years it was all geared toward just men."
STIGMA IN THE PERSONAL LIVES OF WOMEN LIVING WITH HIV
69% of women living with HIV reported experiencing HIV stigma or discrimination in their personal lives
STIGMA EXPERIENCED IN HEALTHCARE SETTINGS BY WOMEN LIVING WITH HIV
61% of women living with HIV reported personally experiencing stigma in a healthcare setting
AWARENESS AND IMPACT OF U=U
72% of women living with HIV said learning about U=U has had a tremendous or significant positive impact in their lives
ENGAGEMENT IN CARE
79% of women living with HIV said our resources made them more likely to communicate effectively with healthcare providers; 76% reported being more likely to take their medications as prescribed
SELF-CARE
71% of women living with HIV said our resources made them more likely to accept only respectful, caring behavior from partners, family, and/or friends
OUTLOOK ON LIVING WITH HIV
83% of women said our resources made them feel more hopeful about the future; 79% reported feeling more valuable as a person
CONNECTION AND COLLABORATION
77% of women living with HIV said our resources made them more likely to connect to a community or network of women living with HIV
ENGAGE IN ADVOCACY
81% of women living with HIV said our resources made them more likely to advocate for others living with HIV
TOP LEARNINGS OF THE EXPERIENCES OF WOMEN LIVING WITH HIV
TOP LEARNINGS ABOUT THE WELL PROJECT'S IMPACT ON WOMEN LIVING WITH HIV
The Well Project's programs continue to have a significant impact on the health and well-being of women living with HIV and that we provide unique and valuable services that impact their daily lives.
In Conclusion
There remain numerous opportunities to improve the lives of women living with HIV. The Well Project is committed to addressing the gaps highlighted in Together We Are…Making an Impact, including:
- Implementing educational programs to reduce stigma experienced by women living with HIV in healthcare settings and their personal lives
- Normalizing mental and behavioral health issues, including current or past violence and trauma, and encouraging women living with HIV to seek the care they need
- Emphasizing the need for education for healthcare providers about the stigma-reducing messages of U=U
- Driving research on and increasing attention to the numerous issues around living with HIV over the long-term (including comorbidities)
- Continuing to promote opportunities for women living with HIV to connect with one another
Together We Are…Making an Impact was developed and reviewed by The Well Project staff, consultants, community advisory board members, and select members of our board of directors.
