Pursuing the adoption pathway: The lived experiences of people living with HIV This exploratory study of 7 participants including individuals and couples, examined the challenges that people with HIV faced as they navigated through the intricate processes of trying to access adoption services in the south of England. In this Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) study, some participants described positive experiences with social workers. However, this was in the minority. Lack of information, inadequate support, stigma and discrimination, cultural insensitivity and disempowerment were frequently reported experiences of participants. Greater understanding and better education for social workers would enhance adoption assessment frameworks to improve access to adoption by people with HIV.