Shabalala A, Goldstein S; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 2000 Jul 9-14; 13: abstract no. ThPeD5541.
A. Shabalala, SOUL CITY, NO.7 Seventh Ave, Lower Houghton, PO Box 1290, Houghton 2041, South Africa, Tel.: +27 117 287 440, Fax: +27 117 287 442, E-mail: soulcity@soulcity.org.za
Background: South Africa has the fastest growing HIV epidemic in the world with 3.5 million people infected with HIV at the end of 1998. About 23% of women,especially those of childbearing age group continue to be the hardest hit. This study undertook to uncover some of the experiences of HIV positive women in an attempt to begin to understand their role in the epidemic and to find better ways to care and support women in South Africa. Methods: Qualitative research methods (in-depth interviews and focus group), were used with ten HIV positive women to explore and gain insight in the experiences and behaviour before and since their diagnosis of being HIV positive. Results: It took most women up to three years to disclose their HIV positive status to anyone close to them. For all this time they carried on hiding this big secret. When they disclosed their status and eventually get some support, it was usually the result of a crisis like a baby being sick. The reasons for not being able to disclose and deal with living positively with HIV are discussed in the paper. The women were also found to have had very little support and information from the services when they attended. Conclusion: From the research it is clear that mostly women do not have control over many aspects of their lives, critically their ability to have safe sex and to live positively with HIV.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Disease Outbreaks
- Female
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- HIV-1
- Health Services
- Humans
- Infant
- Safe Sex
- South Africa
- Virus Diseases
- Viruses
Other ID:
UI: 102242168
From Meeting Abstracts