Identifying Strategies to Cope with HIV-Related Stigma in a Group of Women Living with HIV/AIDS in the Dominican Republic: A Qualitative Study

Rural women living with HIV/AIDS (WLHA) in India experience challenges self-managing HIV/AIDS in their rural communities. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore factors influencing their care and antiretroviral treatment (ART) adherence. Themes that emerged from the qualitative focus groups among WLHA (N = 24) in rural Prakasam, Andhra Pradesh, India, included: (1) coming to know about HIV and other health conditions, (2) experiences being on ART, (3) challenges maintaining a nutritious diet, (4) factors affecting health care access and quality, and (5) seeking support for a better future. Chronic disease self-management in rural locales is challenging, given the number of barriers which rural women experience on a daily basis. These findings suggest a need for individual- and structural-level supports that will aid in assisting rural WLHA to self-manage HIV/AIDS as a chronic illness.

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The dynamics of the production of AIDS-related stigma among pregnant women living with HIV/AIDS in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Cadernos de Saúde Pública ◽

10.1590/0102-311x00122215 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 32 (12) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Simone Monteiro ◽

Wilza Villela ◽

Livia Fraga ◽

Priscilla Soares ◽

Adriana Pinho

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Rio De Janeiro ◽

Gender Inequalities ◽

Hiv Diagnosis ◽

Life Trajectories ◽

Women Living With Hiv ◽

Related Stigma ◽

And Gender ◽

Living With Hiv ◽

Hiv Aids

The study analyses the relationship between AIDS-related stigma and the processes of discrimination prior to diagnosis among pregnant women living with HIV/AIDS. The fieldwork involved interviews about the life trajectories of 29 pregnant women living with HIV/AIDS, recruited at two AIDS services in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The analysis revealed that before HIV diagnosis, social and gender inequalities experienced by these women reduced their access to material and symbolic goods that could have enhanced educational and career prospects and their ability and autonomy to exercise sexual and reproductive rights. Being diagnosed with HIV triggered fear of moral judgment and of breakdown in social and family support networks. Given these fears, pregnant women living with HIV/AIDS opt for concealment of the diagnosis. It is necessary for health services, NGOs and government agencies to work together to face the factors that fuel stigma, such as socioeconomic and gender inequalities, taboos and prejudices related to sexuality, and also develop actions to enable women to redefine the meaning of the disease.

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Childbearing Decision Making: A Qualitative Study of Women Living with HIV/AIDS in Southwest Nigeria

AIDS Research and Treatment ◽

10.1155/2012/478065 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Y. A. Sofolahan ◽

C. O. Airhihenbuwa

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Partner Support ◽

Women Living With Hiv ◽

Sexual Reproductive Health ◽

Southwest Nigeria ◽

Living With Hiv ◽

Depth Interviews ◽

Hiv Aids

Using the PEN-3 model, the purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the factors responsible for the childbearing decisions of women living with HIV/AIDS (WLHA) in Lagos, Nigeria. Sixty WLHA who sought care at a teaching hospital in Lagos were recruited to participate in in-depth interviews. The average age of the participants was 30 years, and 48 participants were receiving antiretroviral therapy. Healthcare and spiritual practices, healthcare provider-patient communication about childbearing, and husband/partner support emerged as factors that contribute to the childbearing decisions of WLHA. The findings reveal the importance of discussing sexual reproductive health and childbearing issues with WLHA in the healthcare context prior to pregnancy.

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Depression and key associated factors in female sex workers and women living with HIV/AIDS in the Dominican Republic

International Journal of STD & AIDS ◽

10.1177/0956462416651374 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 28 (5) ◽

pp. 433-440 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Christine T Rael ◽

Alissa Davis

Keyword(s):

Dominican Republic ◽

Sex Workers ◽

Female Sex Workers ◽

Comparison Group ◽

Internalized Stigma ◽

Contributing Factors ◽

Female Sex ◽

Women Living With Hiv ◽

Living With Hiv ◽

Hiv Aids

Little is known about the mental health of female sex workers and women living with HIV/AIDS in the Dominican Republic, which impedes HIV prevention, testing, and treatment. This project estimates the prevalence of depression and identifies key contributing factors to this outcome in female sex workers, women living with HIV/AIDS, and a comparison group. Participants were female sex workers (N = 349), women living with HIV/AIDS (N = 213), and a comparison group of HIV-negative women who were not sex workers (N = 314) from the Dominican Republic. Participants completed questionnaires assessing demographic characteristics and depression. Female sex workers and women living with HIV/AIDS completed additional questionnaires ascertaining HIV or sex work-related internalized stigma. Depression was prevalent among female sex workers (70.2%), women living with HIV/AIDS (81.1%), and the comparison group (52.2%). Adjusted logistic regressions showed that internalized stigma was associated with depression for female sex workers (OR = 2.73; 95% CI = 1.95–3.84) and women living with HIV/AIDS (OR = 3.06; 95% CI = 1.86–5.05). Permanent income was associated with this outcome for female sex workers (OR = 0.08; 95% CI = 0.01–0.80) and the comparison group (OR = 0.04; 95% CI = 0.00–0.45).

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Barriers to Successful Aging Among Older Women Living With HIV: A Qualitative Study

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1611 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 498-499

Author(s):

Anna Rubtsova ◽

Tonya Taylor ◽

Gina Wingood ◽

Igho Ofotokun ◽

Deborah Gustafson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Study ◽

Support Groups ◽

Successful Aging ◽

Multiple Chronic Conditions ◽

Health Providers ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Women Living With Hiv ◽

Age Related ◽

Related Stigma ◽

Living With Hiv

Abstract Successful aging (SA) is the capacity of older people to thrive despite age-related changes and/or declines. Although our previous research found that older (age ≥50) women living with HIV (OWLH) can achieve SA, considerable barriers remain. The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify specific barriers to SA among OWLH. Our sample consisted of 29 OWLH recruited between October 2018 and March 2019 at two sites of Women’s Interagency HIV Study (WIHS): Atlanta, GA and Brooklyn, NY. These participants were assigned to either semi-structured interviews (N=17: 8 interviews in Brooklyn and 9 in Atlanta) or focus group discussions (FGD: 1 FGD in Atlanta with 5 participants, and 1 FGD in Brooklyn with 7 participants). Our FGD and Interview Guides included questions focused on barriers to SA. Participants were, on average, 58 years old (range 50-73), 86% Black, 83% single, and 62% with annual income ≤ $12,000. All interviews and FGD were transcribed and coded using MAXQDA software. We used thematic coding within constructivist approach. Several themes emerged identifying the following SA barriers: multiple chronic conditions and pain (e.g., arthritis, neuropathy); polypharmacy and side effects of HIV medications (“it’s wearing on me”); HIV-related stigma and loneliness (“I think my children would judge me if I would tell them I have it HIV”); substance use, giving up on yourself (“just sitting around, not doing anything”); and lack of access to resources and services (e.g., mental health providers, support groups). Our findings will help designing public health interventions promoting SA among OWLH.

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AIDS Related Stigma in Social Relations: A Qualitative Study in Turkey

The Qualitative Report ◽

10.46743/2160-3715/2011.1314 ◽

2014 ◽

Author(s):

Aytul Kasapoglu ◽

Elif Saillard ◽

Nilay Kaya ◽

Feryal Turan

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Study ◽

Social Relations ◽

Economic Status ◽

Family Relations ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Related Stigma ◽

Seeking Help ◽

Living With Hiv ◽

Hiv Aids

The actual number of HIV/AIDS cases in Turkey is higher than the number of cases reported, and People Living with HIV (PLWHIV) may refrain from acknowledging their sickness or seeking help because of the stigma associated with HIV and fear of discrimination from their close friends, workmates, and even their families. In this paper we aim to explore HIV-positive people's relationships with significant others such as family members, friends, sexual partners, employers and health professionals in order to present the patients' perceptions about stigma and attitudes that lead to pro-social or anti-social behavior towards them. We carried out a qualitative study based on in-depth interviews with 16 PLWHIV in order to understand the conditions of people living with HIV/AIDS in Turkey. Our results revealed that except for family relations, the fear of contagion is the main obstacle for HIV-positive people's relations with others. HIV-positive people are severely afflicted with discrimination due to the overlapping "instrumental" and "symbolic" stigmas that directly affect their relations. The attribute of responsibility is related to gender and socio-economic status of PLWHIV living in Turkey.

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HIV related stigma and discrimination among people living with HIV/AIDS in Ernakulam District: A qualitative study

Indian Journal of Community Medicine ◽

10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_30_19 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 44 (5) ◽

pp. 34

Author(s):

LeyannaSusan George

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Study ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Stigma And Discrimination ◽

Related Stigma ◽

Living With Hiv ◽

Hiv Aids

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The role of unintended pregnancy in internalized stigma among women living with HIV in Kenya

BMC Women s Health ◽

10.1186/s12905-021-01224-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sara Chace Dwyer ◽

Aparna Jain ◽

Wilson Liambila ◽

Charlotte E. Warren

Keyword(s):

Unintended Pregnancy ◽

Hiv Treatment ◽

Outcome Variable ◽

Internalized Stigma ◽

Health Seeking ◽

Logistic Regression Models ◽

Stigma And Discrimination ◽

Women Living With Hiv ◽

Related Stigma ◽

Living With Hiv

Abstract Background Kenya has successfully expanded HIV treatment, but HIV-related stigma and discrimination, and unintended pregnancy remain issues for many Kenyan women living with HIV. While HIV-related stigma can influence the health seeking behaviors of those living with HIV, less is known about how reproductive health outcomes influence internalized stigma among women living with HIV. Methods Baseline data only were used in this analysis and came from an implementation science study conducted in Kenya from 2015 to 2017. The analytic sample was limited to 1116 women who are living with HIV, between 18 to 44 years old, and have ever experienced a pregnancy. The outcome variable was constructed from 7 internalized stigma statements and agreement with at least 3 statements was categorized as medium/high levels of internalized stigma. Unintended pregnancy, categorized as unintended if the last pregnancy was mistimed or unwanted, was the key independent variable. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess the association between unintended pregnancy and internalized stigma. Associations between internalized stigma and HIV-related discrimination and violence/abuse were also explored. Results About 48% agreed with at least one internalized stigma statement and 19% agreed with at least three. Over half of women reported that their last pregnancy was unintended (59%). Within the year preceding the survey, 52% reported experiencing discrimination and 41% reported experiencing violence or abuse due to their HIV status. Women whose last pregnancy was unintended were 1.6 times (95% CI 1.2–2.3) more likely to have medium/high levels of internalized stigma compared to those whose pregnancy was wanted at the time, adjusting for respondents’ characteristics, experiences of discrimination, and experiences of violence and abuse. Women who experienced HIV-related discrimination in the past 12 months were 1.8 times (95% CI 1.3–2.6) more likely to have medium/high levels of internalized stigma compared to those who experienced no discrimination. Conclusions Results suggest that unintended pregnancy is associated with internalized stigma. Integrated HIV and FP programs in Kenya should continue to address stigma and discrimination while increasing access to comprehensive voluntary family planning services for women living with HIV.

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