Community-Based Internet Access for People Living with HIV/AIDS: Bridging the Digital Divide in AIDS Care

The electronic information revolution has important implications for increasing access to health resources and improving health and quality of life for people living with chronic, life threatening illnesses. This article describes the establishment of a community based technology access center (CTAC) in an AIDS service organization. The goals of the CTAC were to increase Internet access among low-income and minority people living with HIV/AIDS. Results of an evaluation of CTAC utilization showed that the goals of increasing Internet access for this particular population were achieved. Content analysis of websites retrieved from CTAC computers indicated that CTAC users searched primarily for commercial, business-related, general resource, and entertainment functions. The CTAC was used less often for searching for health information and for social and supportive functions. Communitybased CTACs housed within AIDS service organizations can increase Internet access and potentially improve the quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS. (C) 2006 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.