Penularan wabak Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) dan Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) yang melibatkan kaum wanita di seluruh dunia kini menjadi kebimbangan baharu kerana peningkatan bilanganya setiap tahun. Di Malaysia, penularan wabak ini juga turut meningkat terutamanya yang melibatkan golongan suri rumah dan gadis remaja. Golongan wanita berisiko tinggi menyebarkan HIV positif kepada orang lain melalui hubungan seks (suami HIV negatif) dan bayi dalam kandungan. Wanita yang dijangkiti HIV positif mempunyai pandangan yang berbeza terhadap apa yang berlaku dan kebanyakan pandangan-pandangan ini bersifat negatif. 'Kematian' adalah pandangan yang paling banyak diperkatakan oleh wanita yang menghidap HIV positif. Pandangan-pandangan yang diberikan oleh penghidap wanita ini memerlukan satu perbincangan tentang mengapa mereka beranggapan sedemikian. Sehubungan dengan itu, artikel ini bertujuan untuk membincangkan bentuk-bentuk pandangan oleh wanita Melayu setelah disahkan sebagai penghidap HIV positif. Kajian ini menggunakan data primer dan data sekunder. Data primer diperoleh melalui temubual secara mendalam kepada 20 orang informan terdiri daripada wanita telah dijangkiti HIV positif yang menetap di sekitar Besut (Terengganu), Pasir Puteh, Bachok dan Kota Bharu (Kelantan). Manakala data sekunder berbentuk kajian lepas, jurnal-jurnal dan statistik telah digunakan. Kajian ini mendapati bahawa, rata-rata informan memberi pandangan negatif dan mengaitkan HIV positif dengan 'kematian' serta perkara negatif lain seperti jangkitan 'orang benci', 'orang hina' dan 'orang malu'. Kekurangan maklumat atau mendapat maklumat yang salah menjadi punca kepada pandangan ini. Baik atau buruk pandangan oleh penghidap boleh mempengaruhi proses pemulihan dan pemerkasaan diri mereka.

The spread of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been detected for almost 40 years, beginning in the 1980s and still remains a global health issue. HIV-positive infections can now be detected in almost all countries, including Malaysia. The cross-border, complex, dynamic and unpredictable nature of HIV makes the epidemic a global issue and not simply a domestic issue of any particular country. The changing trends of infection are also causing fear to many as more cases are being detected among individuals not involved in risky activities, such as drug abuse and prostitution among women and teenagers. Consequently, the challenges faced by persons with HIV are different for every segment. Specifically, HIV-positive women (PHW) have also been found to face more severe consequences than their male counterparts due to factors such as inequality of power and opportunities and gender differences. This study is conducted to examine the challenges and their effects to understanding what PHWs face. A qualitative study conducted on 20 PHWs found various challenges faced by these women, such as unstable health; being stigmatised and discriminated against; and negatively labelled by family members and members of society in various situations. The challenges faced by the PHWs indirectly affect many aspects of their lives, such as receiving insufficient social support; denied rights and opportunities to seek treatment and employment; barred from community activities; inability to make decisions; and always being in a state of grief, frustration and stress. Therefore, support is desperately needed by the PHW to rebuild their lives.

The level of subjective well-being of individuals was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Both economic (objective) and non-economic (subjective) factors needs to be evaluated to assess the levels of individual well-being. The objective of this study is to assess the level of individual wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research uses a qualitative approach through interviews to obtain information related to subjective well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study involves 20 participants who were affected during the pandemic, including former patients, family members or individuals in the Control Movement Order areas and those who also underwent quarantine. The findings of this investigation shows that economic, social, educational, religious, as well as physical and mental health effects are related to the increase in well-being. The positive effects are related to the increase in well-being, while the negative effects decrease an individual’s level of happiness. The differences in age, location, and occupation correspondingly have distinctive relationships in the assessment of individual wellbeing levels. The findings of this study can additionally help identify the challenges and effects of the pandemic on patients, serving as a reference for government agencies to improve policies and awareness of well-being levels among communities. Further research can be done by investigating the diversity of geographic areas, involving respondents from different areas such as urban, suburban, and rural areas to provide a more comprehensive picture of subjective wellbeing. Studies on subjective well-being can contribute more comprehensive information and assist policy makers as well as psychologists in developing more effective programs to improve subjective well-being.

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the labelling process including stigma and stereotype that Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) women patients must go through. The stigma stems from a lack of knowledge and understanding of HIV itself. It is even worse when HIV positive people are also associated with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) even though not all HIV positive people have AIDS. Data were collected from 20 women with HIV positive in Besut, Terengganu and Pasir Puteh, Bachok and Kota Bharu, Kelantan. Purposive sampling with some help from key informant were used to get the total of 20 respondents. Result of the study indicated that those women experience severe stigma, stereotyping and negative labels even though they were not involved in any immoral activities but instead they are a victim, in which the infection came from their own husband. Some people who are not emotionally strong enough to face the negative perceptions and judgement made by the society cause them to live in fear, anxiety, isolation, depression, and some choose to quit their job and lives, avoid getting proper treatment, meeting, and interacting with others. It is not easy to ensure that society do not label or stigmatize HIV positive patients. But it is the duty of all parties to provide knowledge of Positive HIV and it is a disease that is not easily transmitted to the public. So, there is no reason for the public to fear and punish the patients.

Cabaran bergelar seorang penghidap Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) positif sukar digambarkan sama ada oleh penghidap mahupun anggota masyarakat. Jangkitan HIV positif penuh dengan label dan konotasi negatif, stigma dan diskriminasi sehingga penghidap HIV positif tidak diterima dalam masyarakat. Dalam banyak situasi, keluarga juga tidak menerima kehadiran ahli yang dijangkiti HIV positif sehingga ada yang dipulau, disisih dan dihalau. Penghidap HIV positif wanita yang dijangkiti HIV positif bukan sahaja bergelut dengan tahap kesihatan tidak menentu, tetapi ada pelbagai cabaran terpaksa dihadapi mereka seperti perubahan dalam konteks komunikasi. Komunikasi sangat penting kepada penghidap wanita sebagai sumber kekuatan diri, terutamanya daripada ahli keluarga dan anggota masyarakat. Perubahan pola komunikasi dalam kalangan penghidap HIV positif wanita ini memerlukan satu penelitian tentang sebab masalah ini berlaku dan punca yang menyukarkan mereka mengekalkan pola komunikasi berkesan. Satu kajian telah dijalankan ke atas 20 orang wanita HIV positif di sekitar Terengganu dan Kelantan menggunakan kaedah temu bual secara mendalam. Kajian mendapati bahawa, penghidap HIV positif wanita sukar mendapatkan pola komunikasi berkesan sama ada dalam lingkungan keluarga mahupun luar lingkungan keluarga. Salah satu faktor adalah penghidap itu sendiri yang memilih untuk tidak berkongsi masalah dihadapi mereka (mengelak, mengasingkan diri). Manakala faktor lain ialah anggota masyarakat yang mengelak untuk bertemu atau berhubung dengan mereka setelah status HIV positif dalam diri diketahui oleh pihak lain. Akhirnya penghidap HIV positif wanita memilih untuk berkelakuan seperti individu sihat sebagai salah satu strategi kehidupan mereka. Secara tidak langsung komunikasi mereka berlaku dengan baik kerana tiada pihak yang mengetahui status kesihatan mereka yang sebenarnya. Kata kunci: Komunikasi, cabaran, penghidap wanita, HIV positif, kesejahteraan hidup.