Support Groups: The Human Face of the HIV/AIDS Epidemic: A Handbook for Health Care Professionals, People with AIDS, Their Loved Ones,

In a book that appears to have been assembled more for professionals than for the lay public, Barouh, working in collaboration with a Long Island, N.Y.-based community services program, documents the need and necessary structure for support groups for people with AIDS, their families and friends, and for caregivers. She relies on transcripts of conversations with members of support groups, including a group leader, to kick off each chapter. These life experiences, covering the discovery of HIV infection, living with AIDS, bereavement, coping with the responsibilities and frustrations of leading a support group and more, provide insight on how this special population deals with a variety of problems and issues, ranging from health care to work and peer and family acceptance. Solicited comments also reveal how support groups helped, and occasionally hindered, day-to-day existence. Many lists of types of questions and issues addressed by such groups are included. (Aug.)