Клиничната социална работа в областта на ХИВ – концептуална рамка и практическо приложение в българския контекст
Clinical Social Work in HIV Care – A Conceptual Framework and Practice-Based Evidence from the Bulgarian Context

Summary/Abstract: This article examines the role of clinical social work in HIV care within integrated and patient-centred health care models. It is motivated by the gap between international standards and the Bulgarian context, where clinical social work remains weakly institutionalised. The study combines literature review, conceptual analysis, and a multiple-case study based on practice-based evidence from CheckPoint Sofia. Findings show that clinical social work plays a key stabilising and integrative role by reducing psychosocial distress, overcoming systemic barriers, and improving retention in care. Interventions such as case management, patient navigation, crisis support, and tailored communication directly enhance treatment effectiveness. The study argues that clinical social work is not supplementary but a structural component of high-quality care. The Bulgarian experience demonstrates feasibility, while highlighting the need for formal recognition and integration into the health system.

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