Participating in HIV clinical trials : reasons and experiences among women living with HIV in Thailand

The authors discuss the experiences of participating in HIV trials and their ethical concerns among Thai women living with HIV/AIDS. In-depth interviews and participant observations were conducted with 26 Thai women. Due to their vulnerability and poverty, HIV trials were particularly attractive to these women. Reasons included personal protection from infection, personal gains (free medication, medical care, and information about the development of future clinical trials), and social altruism. The attempts of the women to stay healthy and live longer by participating in clinical trials can be seen as health-promoting behavior. Participation in clinical trials helped to create a sense of optimism to combat the HIV epidemic. The participation also assisted the women to sustain the equilibrium of their emotional well-being. These findings can be valuable for the design and conduct of future HIV clinical trials and the provision of sensitive HIV care for women who are the vulnerable members of society.