scholarly journals Parents' phases and children's stages of HIV disclosure

Author(s):  
Grace Gachanja ◽  
Gary J Burkholder ◽  
Aimee Ferraro

Background: HIV-positive parents are challenged with disclosure to their children. Some do not disclose at all, others disclose to some children, and many take years to fully disclose to all their children. Methods: This qualitative phenomenological study was conducted in Kenya to describe the lived experiences of HIV-positive parents and their children during the disclosure process. Sixteen HIV-positive parents were engaged in in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Interview data were analyzed using the modified Van Kaam method. Results: Parents had a total of 37 living children; 15 HIV-positive, 11 HIV-negative, and 11 of unknown HIV status. Parents went through four phases (secrecy, exploratory, readiness, full disclosure) of disclosure; most admitted needing healthcare professionals’ help to move their children through the three child stages (no, partial, full) of disclosure . Most parents were in between the exploratory and full disclosure phases but had taken years to navigate these phases. Twelve children (HIV-negative and unknown status) had full disclosure of their parents’ illnesses, nine HIV-positive children had full disclosure of their own and their parents’ illnesses, and 10 children (five HIV-positive, four unknown status, and one HIV-negative) had partial disclosure of their own and/or their parents’ illnesses. Parents had indefinite plans to disclose to the six children with no disclosure. Conclusion: Despite being challenged with disclosure, parents progressively navigated the disclosure phases and fully disclosed to the majority of their children. However, the creation of HIV disclosure guidelines, services, and programs would help hasten the time it takes for them to fully disclose to all their children.

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grace Gachanja ◽  
Gary J Burkholder ◽  
Aimee Ferraro

Background: HIV-positive parents are challenged with disclosure to their children. Some do not disclose at all, others disclose to some children, and many take years to fully disclose to all their children. Methods: This qualitative phenomenological study was conducted in Kenya to describe the lived experiences of HIV-positive parents and their children during the disclosure process. Sixteen HIV-positive parents were engaged in in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Interview data were analyzed using the modified Van Kaam method. Results: Parents had a total of 37 living children; 15 HIV-positive, 11 HIV-negative, and 11 of unknown HIV status. Parents went through four phases (secrecy, exploratory, readiness, full disclosure) of disclosure; most admitted needing healthcare professionals’ help to move their children through the three child stages (no, partial, full) of disclosure . Most parents were in between the exploratory and full disclosure phases but had taken years to navigate these phases. Twelve children (HIV-negative and unknown status) had full disclosure of their parents’ illnesses, nine HIV-positive children had full disclosure of their own and their parents’ illnesses, and 10 children (five HIV-positive, four unknown status, and one HIV-negative) had partial disclosure of their own and/or their parents’ illnesses. Parents had indefinite plans to disclose to the six children with no disclosure. Conclusion: Despite being challenged with disclosure, parents progressively navigated the disclosure phases and fully disclosed to the majority of their children. However, the creation of HIV disclosure guidelines, services, and programs would help hasten the time it takes for them to fully disclose to all their children.


2021 ◽  
pp. 088626052110219
Author(s):  
Aiala Szyfer Lipinsky ◽  
Limor Goldner

Studies dealing with the experiences of non-offending mothers from the general population and minority groups after their child’s disclosure of sexual abuse are scarce, and studies on mothers from the Jewish ultra-Orthodox community are non-existent. This study takes an initial step in filling this gap by exploring how the normalization of sexual abuse shapes these mothers’ experiences. A qualitative phenomenological study was conducted on a sample of 21 mothers from the ultra-Orthodox sector whose children had been sexually abused. It consisted of in-depth, semi-structured interviews of the mothers followed by a drawing task on their experience. The analysis of the interviews yielded four central themes: the role of social stigmatization and religion on the mother’s ability to share her child’s abuse; the effect of the disclosure on the mothers’ mental state and maternal competency; the mothers’ ongoing experience in the shadow of this unprocessed/unresolved trauma; and the mothers’ coping strategies, including acceptance, faith, and meaning making. The findings highlight the influence of the tension between the need to adhere to religious norms and preserve the social fabric and the need to enhance mothers’ and children’s well-being.


2016 ◽  
Vol 61 (15) ◽  
pp. 1760-1774 ◽  
Author(s):  
Holly Kurt ◽  
Natti Ronel

An exploratory, qualitative, phenomenological study focused on the experience of pain while participating in sexual masochistic acts. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine individuals (four female, five male) who regularly participate in sexually masochistic acts and point to pain as central to their experience. Qualitative analysis of the data revealed several key characteristics of the participant’s experience: the first time, intoxication, craving and withdrawal, tolerance, pain as control, and the pain inducing partner. The findings indicate that the way pain is experienced while mitigated through masochistic behavior creates an addictive process that coincides with a chronic behavioral spin contextualization. This article presents a preliminary model of addiction to physical pain in light of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM-5) definition of substance-related and addictive disorders and the behavioral spin theory.


2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grace Gachanja ◽  
Gary J Burkholder ◽  
Aimee Ferraro

Background. HIV disclosure is a challenging process for parents and healthcare professionals. The majority of HIV-infected persons live in Sub-Saharan Africa where HIV disclosure guidelines for a parent's and a child's illness are nonexistent. While there are two theoretical models of HIV disclosure, their utility in explaining disclosure in African cultures is largely unknown. Methods. This qualitative phenomenological study was conducted in Kenya to describe the lived experiences of HIV-positive parents and their children during the disclosure process. Thirty four participants consisting of 16 HIV-positive parents, 7 HIV-positive children, 5 HIV-negative children, and 6 healthcare professionals were engaged in in-depth, semistructured interviews. Interview data were analyzed using the modified Van Kaam method. Results. HIV disclosure is a complex process involving factors such as a parent's and child's state of health, ART consumption, stigma/discrimination, and sexuality concerns. Parents take years to prepare for and perform disclosure of theirs and/or their children's illnesses to their infected and noninfected children. They perform disclosure when they feel ready in stages, based on the birth order of their children, the perception of “the right time,” the child's understanding and maturity level, and whose illness(es) they intend to disclose at the time of disclosure. Conclusion. HIV disclosure is challenging and each disclosure session performed is planned and geared to the particular child receiving disclosure. Parents and healthcare professionals are challenged by disclosure and can benefit from creation of HIV disclosure guidelines accompanied by culturally sensitive manuals and training programs aimed at parents and healthcare professionals to ease the process of disclosure.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tahereh Rahimi ◽  
Neda Dastyar ◽  
Foozieh Rafati

Abstract Background: Family caregivers of patients with COVID-19 face many challenges that affect their physical and mental health. Aim: The aim of the present study was to explore the family caregivers' experiences of caring for patients with COVID-19. Methods: This qualitative phenomenological study was performed based on 13 family caregivers who had experience in home caring for patients with COVID-19. Data were collected through purposive sampling with in-depth semi-structured interviews. The Colaizzi's 7-step method was used to determine themes. The MAXQDA10 software was used to manage qualitative data analysis.Results: Five themes of (a) “nature of the disease” with 2 subcategories, including “fluctuating symptoms” and “emergent and unpredictable disease;” (b) “unmet needs” with 3 subcategories, including “lack of knowledge,” “lack of health facilities,” and” financial problems;” (c) “unpleasant physical, psychological, and social experiences” with 3 subcategories, including “unpleasant physical experiences,” “unpleasant psychological experiences,” and “unpleasant social experiences;” (d) “care facilitators” with 3 subcategories, including “social support,” “adaptive mechanisms,” and “intrinsic motivations;” and (e) “positive experiences” with 3 subcategories, including “promoting spirituality,” “improving relationships,” and “growth” were extracted.Conclusion: Information and financial support for COVID-19 should be provided to family caregivers. Also, community members should embrace patients and family caregivers and reinforce the positive experiences of caregivers.


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grace Gachanja ◽  
Gary J Burkholder ◽  
Aimee Ferraro

Background: Many HIV-affected families have both parent(s) and child(ren) infected. HIV disclosure to children continues to be a great global challenge for HIV-positive parents and healthcare professionals (HCPs); parents and HCPs differ on how and when to disclose to children. Methods: Six HCPs including a physician, clinical officer, psychologist, registered nurse, social worker, and a peer educator participated in a larger qualitative phenomenological study conducted to describe the lived experiences of HIV-positive parents and their children during the disclosure process in Kenya. Each HCP underwent an in-depth, semi-structured interview; transcribed data were analyzed using the modified Van Kaam method in NVivo8. Results: Despite HCPs providing parents with regular advice on the benefits of HIV disclosure, fear of stigma, discrimination, and disclosure consequences caused parents to delay disclosure of a parent’s and/or a child’s illness to their HIV-negative and positive children respectively for lengthy periods. While awaiting parental consent for full disclosure, HCPs were forced to provide age-appropriate disease-related information to children. HCPs preference however, was to fully disclose to children in their parents’ presence at the clinic, when children started asking questions and/or displayed maturity and understanding of the illness. Conclusion: Parents are known to prefer disclosing to their children at a time and place of their choosing. Conversely, it appears that HCPs may prefer to disclose to children when they judge the time as being right. For favorable disclosure outcomes, further studies are needed to reconcile the most suitable timing, setting, and person to disclose to HIV-positive and negative children.


2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grace Gachanja ◽  
Gary J Burkholder ◽  
Aimee Ferraro

Background. HIV disclosure is a challenging process for parents and healthcare professionals. The majority of HIV-infected persons live in Sub-Saharan Africa where HIV disclosure guidelines for a parent's and a child's illness are nonexistent. While there are two theoretical models of HIV disclosure, their utility in explaining disclosure in African cultures is largely unknown. Methods. This qualitative phenomenological study was conducted in Kenya to describe the lived experiences of HIV-positive parents and their children during the disclosure process. Thirty four participants consisting of 16 HIV-positive parents, 7 HIV-positive children, 5 HIV-negative children, and 6 healthcare professionals were engaged in in-depth, semistructured interviews. Interview data were analyzed using the modified Van Kaam method. Results. HIV disclosure is a complex process involving factors such as a parent's and child's state of health, ART consumption, stigma/discrimination, and sexuality concerns. Parents take years to prepare for and perform disclosure of theirs and/or their children's illnesses to their infected and noninfected children. They perform disclosure when they feel ready in stages, based on the birth order of their children, the perception of “the right time,” the child's understanding and maturity level, and whose illness(es) they intend to disclose at the time of disclosure. Conclusion. HIV disclosure is challenging and each disclosure session performed is planned and geared to the particular child receiving disclosure. Parents and healthcare professionals are challenged by disclosure and can benefit from creation of HIV disclosure guidelines accompanied by culturally sensitive manuals and training programs aimed at parents and healthcare professionals to ease the process of disclosure.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasper Feyaerts ◽  
Wouter Kusters ◽  
Zeno Van Duppen ◽  
Stijn Vanheule ◽  
Inez Myin-Germeys ◽  
...  

Background Delusions in schizophrenia are commonly approached as empirical false beliefs about everyday reality. Phenomenological accounts, by contrast, have suggested that delusions are more adequately understood as pertaining to a different kind of reality-experience. To date, however, the specific nature of delusional reality-experience has not been subject to systematic empirical study. It is also unclear howthis alteration of reality-experience should be characterized, which dimensions of experiential life are involved and whether delusional reality may differ from standard reality in various ways. Furthermore, little is known about how delusional patients value and relate to these experiential alterations. This study aimed to investigate the natureof delusional reality-experience, and its subjective apprehension, in individuals with lived experience of delusions and a schizophrenia-spectrum diagnosis.Methods In this study, individuals with lived experience of delusions and a schizophrenia-spectrum diagnosis formed a purposeful sample. Phenomenologically driven semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore the nature of delusional reality-experience and participants’ subjective valuation of these experiences. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), a qualitative method tailored to the in-depth exploration of participants’ first-person perspective, was used to analyse participants’ accounts.Findings Between Mar 2, 2020 and Sep 30, 2020, 18 adults with a clinical schizophrenia-spectrum diagnosis and lived experience of delusions participated in the interview-study. The findings suggest that delusions are often embedded in wide-ranging alterations of basic reality-experience, involving quasi-ineffable atmospheric and ontological qualities that undermine participants’ sense of the world as unambiguously real, fully present, and shared with others. We also found thatdelusional reality-experience can differ from standard reality in various way (i.e., in a hypo –and hyper-real form), across multiple dimensions (e.g., meaningfulness, necessity/contingency, detachment/engagement), and that participants are often implicitly or explicitly aware of the distinction between delusional and standard reality. Finally, delusional experience can have an enduring value and meaning that is not fully captured by a strictly medical perspective.Interpretation Increased awareness and recognition of the distinctive nature of delusional reality-experience, in both clinical and research settings, can improve diagnostic accuracy, explanatory models, and therapeutic support for delusional individuals whose lived realities are not always evident from an everyday perspective.


2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Gachanja

Limited published data exists on how HIV-positive parents perform disclosure to all their children. A couple’s HIV disclosure experience to all their children is presented. They participated in a larger study conducted to understand the lived experiences of HIV-positive parents and their children during the disclosure process. Each underwent individualized in-depth semi-structured interviews. Interviews were transcribed and transferred into NVivo 8 for analysis using the Van Kaam method. Three themes emerged including HIV testing, full disclosure delivery accompanied by marital disharmony, and post-disclosure psychological effects on the family. Marital disharmony and non-involvement of the father caused the mother to fully disclose their illnesses to their four oldest children. All children were affected by disclosure, one had a delayed emotional outburst, and another was still angry and withdrawn years later. HIV-positive parents with poor relationships within the families need intense counseling and support pre, during, and post-disclosure to improve outcomes. 


2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grace Gachanja ◽  
Gary J Burkholder ◽  
Aimee Ferraro

Background. HIV disclosure from parent to child is a complex and challenging issue that needs to be approached carefully. Little is known about how parents prepare for and perform disclosure to children in resource-poor nations and what resources are needed. This study was conducted to describe the lived experiences of HIV-positive parents and their children during the disclosure process in Kenya. Methods. This qualitative phenomenological study's data was collected using in-depth semi-structured interviews with 34 participants consisting of HIV-positive parents, HIV-positive and negative children, and healthcare professionals. The Van Kaam method was used to analyze the data. Results. Parents take years to prepare for disclosure, proceeding when they perceive themselves capable and ready; and their children are receptive to the news. Preparation activities include thinking about and making disclosure plans, reading information, teaching children about the disease without disclosure while improving the parent-child relationship, praying regularly and attending religious activities, seeking counseling, and attending support group meetings. Conclusion. Parents perform a number of activities to get themselves and their children ready for disclosure. These activities are crucial in the timely delivery of disclosure. Understanding the importance of these activities helps healthcare professionals assist parents to deliver disclosure faster after diagnosis of illness.


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