Trapped in a Vicious Cycle of Violence: A Qualitative Inquiry into the Experiences of HIV Serodiscordant Married Couples

Abstract

Background: Violence against women is a major, complex, multidimensional and widespread public health concern worldwide. The current qualitative study was conducted to understand the experience of violence among HIV negative women in serodiscordant relationships.Methods: A qualitative description (QD) was conducted from October 2018 to January 2020 (16-month period) in Mashhad, Iran. The researchers recruited 15 HIV negative women who lived with HIV positive men through purposive sampling method. The data were collected using semi-structured interviews. Data analyzed using conventional content analysis adopted by Graneheim and Lundman (2004). Results: The main overarching theme emerged entitled: trapped in a vicious cycle of violence. It consisted of four categories of self-directed violence, intimate partner violence, cultural violence and structural violence. The cycle of violence began soon after awareness of husband's infection with acts such as suicide attempts and a sense of abhorrence for living with an infected person, and continued with confrontation with various types of violence in the family and society.Conclusions: This study provided an insight into different aspects of violence in Iranian women in HIV serodiscordant relationships. Healthcare providers should be able to address topics related to the violence for women who are in HIV serodiscordant relationships.