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Thanasko F, Nikoloudi M, Antoniadou Anemi K, Parpa E, Kouloulias V, Mystakidou K. Adapting Amidst Vulnerability: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Study on Gay Men Living With HIV. Cureus 2024; 16:e58432. [PMID: 38765420 PMCID: PMC11099503 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.58432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND HIV represents a "biographical disruption", interrupting the continuity of life and fostering a sense of vulnerability. The transition of HIV into a chronic condition, coupled with extended life expectancy, necessitates significant lifestyle adjustments, making adaptation and navigation through uncertainties essential. METHOD Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to investigate the lived experiences and adaptation processes of gay men in Greece who are living with HIV. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven HIV-positive gay men, recruited from two Greek NGOs that support individuals living with HIV. Investigator triangulation was used to interpret textual material, heightening credibility and reducing bias, thereby enhancing the findings' reliability. RESULTS The analysis identified a superordinate theme, "Being Vulnerable Enough: Negotiating Uncertainties and Adapting in the HIV Experience", which encompasses three themes: "The Moment of Division: Fear, Uncertainty, and Vulnerability after an HIV Diagnosis", "Grief and Negotiation: Navigating Daily Life Through the Lens of Loss", and "Reclaiming Self: Shaping 'My HIV Identity' to Fit on My Terms". CONCLUSIONS The initial shock of HIV diagnosis introduces a sense of vulnerability, with participants confronting fear, despair, and grief over the loss of health and the disruption of their anticipated life flow. Being vulnerable enough enables individuals to adapt to life with HIV by managing uncertainties through creating certainties with small daily decisions, in a non-linear, ongoing process of negotiation and reassessment, without the need to eliminate all uncertainties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Thanasko
- Pain Relief and Palliative Care Unit, Department of Radiology, Aretaeio Hospital/National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, GRC
| | - Maria Nikoloudi
- Pain Relief and Palliative Care Unit, Department of Radiology, Aretaeio Hospital/National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, GRC
| | - Konstantina Antoniadou Anemi
- Department of Developmental Psychology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, GRC
| | - Efi Parpa
- Pain Relief and Palliative Care Unit, Department of Radiology, Aretaeio Hospital/National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, GRC
| | - Vassilis Kouloulias
- 2nd Radiology Department, Attikon Hospital/National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, GRC
| | - Kyriaki Mystakidou
- Pain Relief and Palliative Care Unit, Department of Radiology, Aretaeio Hospital/National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, GRC
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Yi L, Wu C. 'How can I fix my disrupted life?' Embodied experiences and biocitizenship among men who have sex with men living with HIV in China. CULTURE, HEALTH & SEXUALITY 2023; 25:1387-1401. [PMID: 36547370 DOI: 10.1080/13691058.2022.2157884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Drawing on qualitative data collected from men who have sex with men living with HIV in Fujian and Sichuan provinces in southeast and southwest China, respectively, this study aims to understand their lived experiences in the context of social norms, institutions and roles. We argue that informants encountered biographical disruption as a result of their diagnosed infection. They then painfully experienced different forms of social death on the one hand, while on the other, some also exerted agency/autonomy by strategically fighting for their rights and interests in both private and public domains. By examining these lived experiences, this study discusses the biological citizenship of the respondents so as to deepen understanding of embodied life experiences and trajectories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Yi
- Department of Sociology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Chuanhong Wu
- Department of Sociology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
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Hosaka KRJ, Mandewo D, Mmbaga BT, Ngowi H, Dow DE, Stewart KA. "I am not alone with tears": embodying stigma and longing among youth living with perinatally acquired HIV in Tanzania through a collaborative arts-based approach. MEDICAL HUMANITIES 2023; 49:396-406. [PMID: 36526410 PMCID: PMC10827326 DOI: 10.1136/medhum-2022-012477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
It is estimated that 4 million youth aged 15-24 years live with HIV globally, 85% of whom live in sub-Saharan Africa. For youth living with perinatally acquired HIV (YPHIV), stigma is frequently linked with negative health outcomes. YPHIV face distinct HIV stigma experiences across the lifespan, particularly because of the centrality of the family context in their HIV experience and the reality that they have lived with HIV since birth. Nevertheless, our understanding and measurement of stigma remains limited. One way to improve our understanding of HIV stigma for YPHIV is through in-depth exploration of embodied narratives of HIV experience. This paper is based on fieldwork that incorporated a collaborative arts-based approach with a group of six YPHIV in Tanzania. Using artwork and a theoretical framework of embodiment, this paper phenomenologically describes their narratives of HIV experience, perceptions of stigma over time and imaginations of the future. This paper highlights that collective solidarity, habitus and participants' desire to reframe others' perceptions about them and relieve the suffering of others shape the embodied experience with HIV. Moreover, this paper argues that stigma experiences for YPHIV are temporal and have changed over time with increased age, interventions and biomedical advances. Broadly, while HIV stigma continues to exist, participants report responding to stigma with agency by creating alternative solidarities and pushing boundaries of possibility, reframing others' perceptions of them and acting on dreams for better futures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalei Richard James Hosaka
- John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
- Division of Internal Medicine-Pediatrics, University of California Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | | | - Blandina T Mmbaga
- Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Kilimanjaro, United Republic of Tanzania
- Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Moshi, Kilimanjaro, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Happyness Ngowi
- Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Kilimanjaro, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Dorothy E Dow
- Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kearsley Alison Stewart
- Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Cultural Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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Fauk NK, Mwanri L, Gesesew HA, Ward PR. Biographical Reinvention: An Asset-Based Approach to Understanding the World of Men Living with HIV in Indonesia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6616. [PMID: 37623199 PMCID: PMC10454460 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20166616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
HIV diagnosis and management have often caused disruption to the everyday life and imagined futures of people living with HIV, both at individual and social levels. This disruption has been conceptualised, in a rather dystopian way, as 'biographical disruption'. This paper explores whether or not biographical disruption of living with HIV encourages men living with HIV (MLHIV; n = 40) in Yogyakarta and Belu, Indonesia, to reinvent their sense of self and future over time using internal and external assets. Our analysis uses the concepts of additive and subtractive resilience strategies, and we show how, rather than having a purely disrupted biography, participants talked about their experiences of 'biographical reinvention'. Study participants were recruited using the snowball sampling technique, beginning with two HIV clinics as the settings. Data were collected using one-on-one in-depth interviews, and a qualitative framework analysis was used to guide step-by-step data analysis. The findings showed that, despite the disruptions in their everyday lives (i.e., mental health condition, work, activities, social relationships, etc.) following the HIV diagnosis and management, MLHIV in our study managed to utilise their internal assets or traits (i.e., hope, optimism, resilience) and mobilised external resources (i.e., support from families, friends and healthcare professionals) to cope with the disruptions. An interweaving of these internal assets and external resources enabled them to take on new activities and roles (additive resilience strategies) and give up health compromising behaviours (subtractive resilience strategies). These were effective for most MLHIV in our study, not only to cope with the HIV repercussions and improve their physical and mental health conditions, but to think or work on a 'reinvented' biography which encompassed resilience, hope and optimism for better health, life and future. The findings indicate the need for HIV interventions and healthcare systems that provide appropriate support for the development and maintenance of internal assets of PLHIV to enable them to cope with the repercussions of HIV and work on a 'reinvented' biography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nelsensius Klau Fauk
- Centre for Public Health, Equity and Human Flourishing, Torrens University Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (L.M.); (H.A.G.); (P.R.W.)
- Institute of Resource Governance and Social Change, Kupang 85227, Indonesia
| | - Lillian Mwanri
- Centre for Public Health, Equity and Human Flourishing, Torrens University Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (L.M.); (H.A.G.); (P.R.W.)
| | - Hailay Abrha Gesesew
- Centre for Public Health, Equity and Human Flourishing, Torrens University Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (L.M.); (H.A.G.); (P.R.W.)
- College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle P.O. Box 231, Tigray, Ethiopia
| | - Paul Russell Ward
- Centre for Public Health, Equity and Human Flourishing, Torrens University Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (L.M.); (H.A.G.); (P.R.W.)
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Fujii K, Hashimoto H. Socio-psychological factors associated with anticipated stigma toward COVID-19: a cross-sectional study in Japan. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:1245. [PMID: 37370015 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16159-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The stigmatization against COVID-19 has become a public issue. However, it remains unknown which individual factor contributes to anticipated stigma formation. This study explored socio-psychological factors associated with anticipated stigma toward coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS We obtained cross-sectional data regarding 1,638 middle-aged community residents (mean age, 48.5 years) from a population-based survey in metropolitan Tokyo, Japan during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, when a regional public health emergency had been declared in December 2020 and January 2021. We hypothesized that perceived risk of infection, normative beliefs about preventive behaviors, and past experiences of stigmatization unrelated to COVID-19 would be associated with anticipated stigma. Modified Poisson regression was conducted to examine associations after adjustments for demographic and socioeconomic statuses. RESULTS Higher perceived risk (adjusted prevalence ratio [APR] = 1.17; 95% confidence interval [CI, 1.08-1.27]), past experiences of stigmatization (APR = 1.09; 95% CI [1.00-1.19]), and higher normative beliefs about preventive behaviors (APR = 1.18; 95% CI [1.11-1.26]) were independently associated with anticipated stigma. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that intervention messages to increase risk perception and normative beliefs to enhance protective behaviors may have the unintended effect of increasing anticipated stigma in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kana Fujii
- Department of Health and Social Behavior, The University of Tokyo School of Public Health, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.
| | - Hideki Hashimoto
- Department of Health and Social Behavior, The University of Tokyo School of Public Health, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
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Wells N, Murphy D, Ellard J, Philpot SP, Prestage G. HIV Diagnosis as Both Biographical Disruption and Biographical Reinforcement: Experiences of HIV Diagnoses Among Recently Diagnosed People Living With HIV. QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH 2023; 33:165-175. [PMID: 36633974 DOI: 10.1177/10497323221146467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Despite the potential for HIV treatments to transform the health needs of people living with HIV, receiving a positive HIV diagnosis can be a difficult experience and feelings of shock, distress and concerns for the future are commonly reported. Drawing on Michael Bury's conceptualisation of 'biographical disruption', we utilised semi-structured interviews to explore experiences of HIV diagnoses among 34 people diagnosed with HIV between 2016 and 2020 and living in Australia. Interviews were conducted between January 2018 and August 2021. Despite significant advances in biomedical HIV treatments and prevention, participants commonly experienced HIV diagnosis as emotionally challenging. For those with limited HIV awareness, HIV was commonly understood as a likely fatal condition. For some participants, receiving a positive diagnosis also engendered a degree of uncertainty as to their anticipated life trajectory, particularly its impact on future sexual and romantic relationships, options for starting a family and migration opportunities. For some gay and bisexual male participants, receiving a positive diagnosis almost confirmed a life trajectory that they had worked to avoid and their own sometimes-negative attitudes toward people living with HIV were internalised, making adjusting to diagnosis more complex. While all participants reported challenges in adjusting to an HIV diagnosis, some ultimately came to experience living with HIV as bringing about unexpected and welcome changes to their lives. Our findings highlight the complex and intersecting medical, social and emotional needs of people living with HIV when receiving and adjusting to a positive HIV diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathanael Wells
- HIV Epidemiology and Prevention Program, 2786Kirby Institute, University of NSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Dean Murphy
- HIV Epidemiology and Prevention Program, 2786Kirby Institute, University of NSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jeanne Ellard
- 110434Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health, and Society, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Steven P Philpot
- HIV Epidemiology and Prevention Program, 2786Kirby Institute, University of NSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Garrett Prestage
- HIV Epidemiology and Prevention Program, 2786Kirby Institute, University of NSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Conserve DF, Msofe J, Issango J, Tureski K, McCarthy P, Rwezahura P, Maboko L, Lwakatare M, Ndugulile F, Kamwela J, Sims W, Ahonkhai AA, Whembolua GL. Development, Implementation, and Scale Up of the National Furaha Yangu Campaign to Promote HIV Test and Treat Services Uptake Among Men in Tanzania. Am J Mens Health 2022; 16:15579883221087838. [PMID: 35333688 PMCID: PMC8958702 DOI: 10.1177/15579883221087838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Evidence has demonstrated that immediate HIV treatment initiation upon a positive HIV test, referred to as Test and Treat, can help people living with HIV live longer, healthier lives and prevent HIV transmission. Although Tanzania adopted the evidence-based Test and Treat strategy since 2016, men were not being adequately reached for HIV services. A national campaign was launched to promote the new HIV services with a focus on men. To inform the development and implementation of the campaign, we conducted formative audience insights-gathering (AIG) sessions to assess facilitators and barriers to accessing HIV Test and Treat services and inform the concepts and materials for the campaign. Qualitative AIG interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with 54 people who were unaware or aware of their HIV status and currently or not currently on treatment, as well as health workers. Facilitators and barriers included a fear of testing positive, the desire to belong, control their narratives, and reinvent themselves to achieve their dreams and live a happy life. The campaign played off a My Happiness! creative concept to position antiretroviral therapy (ART) as a solution to fears around what life would be like after a positive HIV diagnosis. The development and implementation of the campaign were informed by the AIG sessions and national stakeholders, leading to strong partners’ buy-in that supported the scale-up of the ongoing campaign from 12 to 26 regions via the collaborative efforts of government, donors, and implementing partners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donaldson F Conserve
- Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.,Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | | | - Jumanne Issango
- Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Kara Tureski
- FHI 360, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.,Kara Tureski is now affiliated with FHI 360, Washington, DC, USA and Pamela McCarthy is now affiliated with Pam McCarthy Associates, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | - Pamela McCarthy
- FHI 360, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.,Kara Tureski is now affiliated with FHI 360, Washington, DC, USA and Pamela McCarthy is now affiliated with Pam McCarthy Associates, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | | | - Leonard Maboko
- Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | | | | | - Jerome Kamwela
- Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Wynton Sims
- University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Aima A Ahonkhai
- Department of Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.,Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
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8
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Iveniuk J, Calzavara L, Bullock S, Mendelsohn J, Burchell A, Bisaillon L, Daftary A, Lebouché B, Masching R, Thompson T. Social capital and HIV-serodiscordance: Disparities in access to personal and professional resources for HIV-positive and HIV-negative partners. SSM Popul Health 2022; 17:101056. [PMID: 35342785 PMCID: PMC8943292 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2022.101056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
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Orsini M, Kilty JM. When biographical disruption meets HIV exceptionalism: Reshaping illness identities in the shadow of criminalization. SOCIOLOGY OF HEALTH & ILLNESS 2021; 43:1136-1153. [PMID: 34105181 DOI: 10.1111/1467-9566.13290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Drawing on interviews with civil society actors in the AIDS Service Organization (ASO) sector in Canada, this article explores how these actors contribute to shaping the illness identities of people living with HIV/AIDS in the shadow of efforts to criminalize exposure to HIV. While the biographically disruptive qualities associated with an HIV diagnosis have been addressed in the medical sociology literature, we turn our attention to the key role played by ASOs as interlocutors in this process. Paying specific attention to the intersection of processes of medicalization and criminalization, we ask how they are re-stigmatizing a condition that has shifted in the public consciousness from its earlier association with deviance and moral culpability. One important implication of our findings concerns the need to take greater account of how the illness identity and experience can be shaped by a 'biography of telling', of a renewed pressure to disclose intimate details of one's health status as a way to perform responsible practices of citizenship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Orsini
- Institute of Feminist and Gender Studies, School of Political Studies, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Jennifer M Kilty
- Department of Criminology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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10
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Campbell CK. Structural and intersectional biographical disruption: The case of HIV disclosure among a sample of black gay and bisexual men. Soc Sci Med 2021; 280:114046. [PMID: 34051554 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
HIV disclosure has been considered key to prevention and privileged as a "healthy" behavior for people living with HIV. Although research has documented potential negative outcomes of disclosure, we know little about its potential of these consequences to disrupt one's biography, or the intersectional and structural inequities that shape disclosure/nondisclosure and its outcomes. Exploring HIV disclosure as a discrete, measurable event cannot account for the experience of the self in illness, and how disclosure can fundamentally shift everyday reality and social relationships. To fill this gap, I employed the framework of structural intersectionality, and the medical sociology theory of biographical disruption to explore HIV disclosure among a sample of Black gay and bisexual men living with HIV in the Deep South. Between June 2019 and June 2020, I conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with 30 Black gay and bisexual men living with HIV in the Baton Rouge, Louisiana metropolitan area. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim and analyzed using a grounded theory approach. Disruptions as a result of HIV disclosure included: assaults on self; disturbance to social and familial networks; and socioeconomic impacts. Further, findings illustrate that disruptions were not discrete events, but evolved over time, and that the nature of disruption was constituted by previous traumatic disruptions, social and structural contexts, and men's social location at the intersections of race, class, sexuality, HIV-status, and geography. I highlight that consequences of HIV disclosure among a sample of Black gay and bisexual men, were shaped by their unique social location and the persistence of intersecting structural inequities. Future research should account for preceding and cumulative experiences, how intersecting inequities constitute disclosure experiences, and that disclosure is a complex process occurring in the context of ongoing social relations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chadwick K Campbell
- Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California San Francisco, 550 16th Street, 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA, 94158, United States; Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of California San Francisco, Box 0612, 490 Illinois Street, Floor 12, San Francisco, CA, 94143, United States.
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Payán DD, Derose KP, Fulcar MA, Farías H, Palar K. "It Was as Though My Spirit Left, Like They Killed Me": The Disruptive Impact of an HIV-Positive Diagnosis among Women in the Dominican Republic. J Int Assoc Provid AIDS Care 2020; 18:2325958219849042. [PMID: 31109213 PMCID: PMC6748475 DOI: 10.1177/2325958219849042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
An HIV diagnosis may be associated with severe emotional and psychological distress,
which can contribute to delays in care or poor self-management. Few studies have explored
the emotional, psychological, and psychosocial impacts of an HIV diagnosis on women in
low-resource settings. We conducted in-depth interviews with 30 women living with HIV in
the Dominican Republic. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using
the biographical disruption framework. Three disruption phases emerged (impacts of a
diagnosis, postdiagnosis turning points, and integration). Nearly all respondents
described the news as deeply distressful and feelings of depression and loss of self-worth
were common. Several reported struggling with the decision to disclose—worrying about
stigma. Postdiagnosis turning points consisted of a focus on survival and motherhood;
social support (family members, friends, HIV community) promoted integration. The findings
suggest a need for psychological resources and social support interventions to mitigate
the negative impacts of an HIV diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise Diaz Payán
- 1 Department of Public Health, School of Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts, University of California, Merced, CA, USA.,2 RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA, USA
| | | | - María Altagracia Fulcar
- 3 United Nations World Food Programme, Dominican Republic Country Office, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
| | - Hugo Farías
- 4 United Nations World Food Programme, Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, Panamá, Dominican Republic
| | - Kartika Palar
- 5 School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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12
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Tan RKJ, Lim JM, Chan JKW. "Not a walking piece of meat with disease": meanings of becoming undetectable among HIV-positive gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in the U = U era. AIDS Care 2019; 32:325-329. [PMID: 31530003 DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2019.1668534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) represent a key population disproportionately affected by HIV in various settings. While past studies have investigated how individuals negotiated their identities following their diagnoses of HIV, an emerging area of inquiry considers the implications of viral suppression, or becoming undetectable, on identity and well-being in an undetectable = untransmittable (U = U) era. We conducted 24 in-depth interviews with a purposively recruited sample of GBMSM living with HIV in Singapore. Interviews were analyzed through inductive thematic analysis. Participants viewed viral suppression as a clinical objective, and contrasted this with becoming undetectable as an identity and aspiration. Many participants saw becoming undetectable as a turning point for them post-diagnosis, and expressed a sense of achievement upon attaining the status. Participants shared that being undetectable was associated with several positive outcomes in coming to terms with their HIV-positive diagnoses that signified achievements in health, personal and social responsibilities, as well as equity in romantic and sexual relationships. The results of this study highlight the importance of becoming undetectable and its potential impact on the quality of life for GBMSM living with HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rayner Kay Jin Tan
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jane Mingjie Lim
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jeremiah Kah Wai Chan
- Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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Burns R, Borges J, Blasco P, Vandenbulcke A, Mukui I, Magalasi D, Molfino L, Manuel R, Schramm B, Wringe A. 'I saw it as a second chance': A qualitative exploration of experiences of treatment failure and regimen change among people living with HIV on second- and third-line antiretroviral therapy in Kenya, Malawi and Mozambique. Glob Public Health 2019; 14:1112-1124. [PMID: 30632883 DOI: 10.1080/17441692.2018.1561921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Increasing numbers of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in sub-Saharan Africa are experiencing failure of first-line antiretroviral therapy and transitioning onto second-line regimens. However, there is a dearth of research on their treatment experiences. We conducted in-depth interviews with 43 PLHIV on second- or third-line antiretroviral therapy and 15 HIV health workers in Kenya, Malawi and Mozambique to explore patients' and health workers' perspectives on these transitions. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and translated into English. Data were coded inductively and analysed thematically. In all settings, experiences of treatment failure and associated episodes of ill-health disrupted daily social and economic activities, and recalled earlier fears of dying from HIV. Transitioning onto more effective regimens often represented a second (or third) chance to (re-)engage with HIV care, with patients prioritising their health over other aspects of their lives. However, many patients struggled to maintain these transformations, particularly when faced with persistent social challenges to pill-taking, alongside the burden of more complex regimens and an inability to mobilise sufficient resources to accommodate change. Efforts to identify treatment failure and support regimen change must account for these patients' unique illness and treatment histories, and interventions should incorporate tailored counselling and social and economic support.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joana Borges
- b Médecins sans Frontières , Geneva , Switzerland
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Alison Wringe
- f London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine , London , UK
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Abel G, Thompson L. "I don't want to look like an AIDS victim": A New Zealand case study of facial lipoatrophy. HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY 2018; 26:41-47. [PMID: 28557181 DOI: 10.1111/hsc.12459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/28/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The development of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to treat HIV has turned what was once a death sentence into a chronic disorder. However, a focus on absence of disease in the form of an undetectable viral load and the dismissal of the so-called "cosmetic" complications of the disease ignores perceptions of health and well-being of those living with HIV. Facial lipoatrophy is a stigmatising side effect of treatment for HIV as it betrays the presence of the virus within the body. The study took a longitudinal qualitative approach, interviewing 11 people twice over a period of 1 year on their experience of living with HIV. Two participants were given cameras and asked to take photos which represented what it was like for them to live with this condition and were interviewed four times at four monthly intervals. This paper looks at one man's struggle to conceal or veil his facial lipoatrophy. His story is presented in the form of "selfies" and extracts from in-depth interviews. It tells of an emotional (ongoing) journey of frustration, anger, excitement, depression and resignation which had a profound effect on his sense of social and psychological well-being. This suggests a more holistic approach to treating people living with HIV is needed. While an undetectable viral load is indeed vital, it should not be seen as the only essential outcome of treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gillian Abel
- Department of Population Health, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Lee Thompson
- Department of Population Health, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
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Jaspal R, Williamson I. Identity management strategies among HIV-positive Colombian gay men in London. CULTURE, HEALTH & SEXUALITY 2017; 19:1374-1388. [PMID: 28463037 DOI: 10.1080/13691058.2017.1314012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
This study set out to explore the social-psychological aspects of living with HIV among a group of HIV-positive Colombian gay men in London, and the strategies that they deployed to manage ensuing threats to their identities. Focus group and individual interview data were collected from 14 Colombian gay men living with HIV, and were analysed using qualitative thematic analysis and identity process theory. The following themes are discussed: (1) identity struggles and conflicts in Colombia, (2), managing multiple layers of social stigma in England, and (3) changing interpersonal and intergroup dynamics, which highlight the inter-connections between sexual prejudice, sexual risk-taking and HIV stigma. Identity may be chronically threatened due to the multiple layers of stigma, which can limit the coping strategies available to individuals. Findings strongly support the need for action and programmes to highlight and tackle both racism and HIV stigma on the gay scene and to fund more specific resources for sub-communities of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, which employ appropriately trained and culturally competent staff.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rusi Jaspal
- a Faculty of Health and Life Sciences , De Montfort University , Leicester , UK
- b Faculty of Arts, Psychology and Theology , Abo Akademi University , Turku , Finland
| | - Iain Williamson
- a Faculty of Health and Life Sciences , De Montfort University , Leicester , UK
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Kamitani E, Sipe TA, Higa DH, Mullins MM, Soares J. Evaluating the Effectiveness of Physical Exercise Interventions in Persons Living With HIV: Overview of Systematic Reviews. AIDS EDUCATION AND PREVENTION : OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR AIDS EDUCATION 2017; 29:347-363. [PMID: 28825859 PMCID: PMC5942186 DOI: 10.1521/aeap.2017.29.4.347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Physical exercise (PE) has not been well studied in persons living with HIV (PLHIV). We conducted an overview of systematic reviews to assess the effectiveness of PE and to determine the most appropriate PE regimen for PLHIV. We used the CDC's Prevention Research Synthesis Project's database and manual searches to identify systematic reviews published between 1996 and 2013. We qualitatively synthesized the findings from five reviews to assess the effectiveness of PE and conducted meta-analyses on CD4 counts to identify the best PE regimen. PE is associated with reduced adiposity and depression, but was not associated with a decrease in HIV viral load. CD4 counts were improved by interventions with interval aerobic or 41-50 minutes of exercise three times per week compared with other modes and duration of exercise. PE appears to benefit PLHIV, but more research is needed to help develop appropriate PE strategies specifically for PLHIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emiko Kamitani
- ORISE Fellow, Prevention Research Branch, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Theresa Ann Sipe
- Prevention Research Branch, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
| | - Darrel H Higa
- Prevention Research Branch, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
| | - Mary M Mullins
- Prevention Research Branch, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
| | - Jesus Soares
- Physical Activity and Health Branch, Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Charlier P, Deo S, Hassin J, Hervé C. Social death, melancholia, and zombies: Same patterns? Med Hypotheses 2017; 101:59-60. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2017.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Revised: 02/27/2017] [Accepted: 03/01/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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Vancampfort D, Mugisha J, Richards J, De Hert M, Probst M, Stubbs B. Physical activity correlates in people living with HIV/AIDS: a systematic review of 45 studies. Disabil Rehabil 2017; 40:1618-1629. [PMID: 28325087 DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2017.1306587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Understanding barriers and facilitators of physical activity participation in persons living with HIV/AIDS is an essential first step in order to devise effective interventions. The present review provides a systematic quantitative review of the physical activity correlates in people with HIV/AIDS. METHODS Major electronic databases were searched till August 2016. Keywords included "physical activity" or "exercise" or "sports" and "AIDS" or "HIV". RESULTS Out of 55 correlates from 45 studies (N = 13,167; mean age range = 30.5-58.3 years; 63.2% male) five consistent (i.e., reported in four or more studies) correlates were identified. Lower levels of physical activity were consistently associated with older age (6/10 studies), a lower educational level (6/7), a lower number of CD4 cells/μl (7/11), exposure to antiviral therapy (4/6), and the presence of lipodystrophy (4/4). Other important barriers were the presence of bodily pain (2/2), depression (3/3), and opportunistic infections (3/4). Facilitators were a higher cardiorespiratory fitness level (3/3), a higher self-efficacy (2/2), more perceived benefits (2/2), and a better health motivation (3/3). CONCLUSIONS The current review has elucidated that participation in physical activity by people with HIV/AIDS is associated with a range of complex factors which should be considered in rehabilitation programs. Implications for Rehabilitation Health care professionals should consider HIV-related bodily pain and feelings of depression when assisting people living with HIV in inititiating and maintaining an active lifestyle. Interventions to improve self-efficacy and motivation, and to help people living with HIV in understanding the benefits of exercise, may encourage greater participation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davy Vancampfort
- a Department of Rehabilitation Sciences , KU Leuven - University of Leuven , Leuven , Belgium.,b University Psychiatric Center KU Leuven, KU Leuven - University of Leuven , Leuven-Kortenberg , Belgium
| | - James Mugisha
- c Butabika National Referral and Mental Health Hospital , Kampala , Uganda.,d Department of Sociology and Social Administration, Kyambogo University , Kampala , Uganda
| | - Justin Richards
- e School of Public Health & Charles Perkins Centre , University of Sydney , Sydney , NSW , Australia
| | - Marc De Hert
- b University Psychiatric Center KU Leuven, KU Leuven - University of Leuven , Leuven-Kortenberg , Belgium
| | - Michel Probst
- a Department of Rehabilitation Sciences , KU Leuven - University of Leuven , Leuven , Belgium
| | - Brendon Stubbs
- f Department of Physiotherapy , South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust , London , UK.,g Department of Health Service and Population Research , King's College London , De Crespigny Park , London , UK
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Kaplan RL, Khoury CE, Field ERS, Mokhbat J. Living Day by Day: The Meaning of Living With HIV/AIDS Among Women in Lebanon. Glob Qual Nurs Res 2016; 3:2333393616650082. [PMID: 28462340 PMCID: PMC5342635 DOI: 10.1177/2333393616650082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2016] [Revised: 04/18/2016] [Accepted: 04/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
We examined the meaning of living with HIV/AIDS among women in Lebanon. Ten women living with HIV/AIDS (WLWHA) described their experiences via semistructured in-depth interviews. They navigated a process of HIV diagnosis acceptance that incorporated six overlapping elements: receiving the news, accessing care, starting treatment, navigating disclosure decisions, negotiating stigma, and maintaining stability. Through these elements, we provide a framework for understanding three major themes that were constructed during data analysis: Stand by my side: Decisions of disclosure; Being "sick" and feeling "normal": Interacting with self, others, and society; and Living day by day: focusing on the present. We contribute to the existing literature by providing a theoretical framework for understanding the process of diagnosis and sero-status acceptance among WLWHA. This was the first study of its kind to examine the meaning of living with HIV/AIDS among women in a Middle Eastern country.
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