“My children and my home”: the most recent and challenging stressors of HIV-positive women

Abstract

Because of negative health consequences and differences in exposure and vulnerability to stressful encounters, it is important to examine and understand the stressful experiences faced by women living with HIV. The goal of this study was to examine the most recent and challenging stressors faced and coping strategies adopted by a sample of women living with HIV. Using mixed methodology, narratives of six women's most recent and stressful experience and answers to the Ways of Coping questionnaire were collected and analysed. Two main themes arose from the stressor narratives: child-related concerns and housing issues. To address these stressors, each woman used a variety of coping strategies, the most common being seeking social support even when stressors were analysed separately according to their main themes. Implications of these findings within service provision are discussed.

Are women a different group of HIV-infected individuals?

“…The diversity of and vulnerability to stressful events that HIV-positive women are likely to encounter are inherently different than that faced by HIVpositive men or HIV negative women (Shannon et al 2008). Ndlovu et al describes that child-related stressors are the most challenging stressors faced by HIV-positive women and seeking social support was an important component of coping response for the participants in that study (Ndlovu et al 2010). Greene et al highlight the complex and unique needs of HIV-positive parents who live with and care for their children and the central role that housing plays in their lives.…”

Not Just “A Roof over Your Head”: The Meaning of Healthy Housing for People Living with HIV

“…A number of research studies have examined the housing precarity of Aboriginal people, African Diasporic (Black racial identity) communities, women, families and older people with HIV (Furlotte et al 2012;Greene et al 2010;Monette et al 2009Monette et al , 2011Ndlovu, Ion, and Carvalhal 2010;Riley et al 2007;Tucker et al 2009). This evidence compliments the demographic diversification of the epidemic in Canada, where key populations at risk for HIV include men who have sex with men (MSM), 2 people who use drugs, women, Aboriginal people and people from countries where HIV is endemic.…”

Identifying HIV-Infected Women's Psychosocial Stressors: Findings from a Qualitative Study

“…However, to our knowledge, only three studies have qualitatively investigated the psychosocial stressors of HIV-infected women (Hackl, Somlai, Kelly, & Kalichman, 1997; Ndlovu, Ion, & Carvalhal, 2010; Semple, Patterson, Temoshok, & McCutchan, 1993). Two studies assessed the stressors of HIV-infected women and found that HIV-related health concerns and issues central to HIV (e.g., experiences of HIV-related stigma) were the most salient stressors (Hackl et al, 1997; Semple et al, 1993).…”

“…However, these studies were done before the widespread availability of HAART. A more recent qualitative study found that inadequate housing and serving as the primary caregiver for children were the most prominent stressors (Ndlovu et al, 2010). However, this study sampled only six HIV-infected women.…”

“…However, this study sampled only six HIV-infected women. While these studies provide insights into HIV-infected women’s experiences, they were limited by being conducted prior to the widespread availability of antiretroviral medications and HIV medical treatment advances (Ndlovu et al, 2010; Semple et al, 1993), enrolling few HIV-infected women (e.g., N = 6 participants; Hackl et al, 1997), and inadequate assessment of desired psychosocial services to address stressors.…”