Vivir con VIH: experiencias de estigma sentido en personas con VIH

Abstract

ResumenObjetivo: Reconocer los significados colectivos y subjetivos que un grupo de personas con VIH tiene respecto a vivir con la enfermedad.Método: Cualitativo explicativo con diseño narrativo. Los datos fueron recolectados a través de tres grupos de discusión conformados por 16 personas con VIH, hombres y mujeres entre los 22 y los 49 años de edad, que viven en la ciudad de Cali.Resultados: Los significados de los participantes giran en torno al vivir el VIH, en relación con el estigma sentido, el estigma real, el estigma percibido y el autoestigma. La experiencia del estigma se relaciona directamente con la percepción que los participantes tienen de sí mismos y la construcción de su autoimagen y autoconcepto se transforma dependiendo de la forma en que se asume la enfermedad; finalmente, las estrategias de afrontamiento que se utilizan se basan en el cuidado de la imagen, en evitar el malestar emocional y sentirse apoyados por alguna persona cercana a ellos.Conclusiones: Los hallazgos de la presente investigación permiten evidenciar que el VIH es producto de diversas situaciones en cadena, en donde las representaciones sociales construidas alrededor de la enfermedad constituyen un factor central en el afrontamiento y en la forma de vivirlo colectivamente, realizar una intervención desde temáticas como la memoria colectiva, la identidad colectiva y la reconstrucción de la identidad podría permitir resignificar y potencializar la imagen que las personas con VIH tienen de sí mismas y del grupo social al que pertenecen. Palabras Claves:Estigma sentido, VIH, Autoimagen, Identidad colectiva Abstract Objective: This paper aims to recognize what a group of people with HIV have regarding living with this disease and based on collective and subjective meanings. Method:The data collected corresponds to three discussion groups of 16 people with HIV, men and women from Cali, between 22 and 49 years sampled, through a Qualitative explanatory and following a narrative design Results: As a result, everything related to collective meanings of the participants revolve around living with this disease (HIV), as follows: Felt stigma, real stigma, perceived stigma and self-stigma; in addition, the experience of stigma is directly related to the participants perception of themselves and the construction of their self-image and self-concept, transformed depending on how do these individuals assume the disease; finally, coping strategies used are based on caring for the image, avoiding emotional distress and feeling supported by someone close to them. Conclusion:This research findings make possible to show that HIV is the result of various situations associated, where social representations built around the disease are a central factor in coping with and how to live with it collectively. Themes such as collective memory, collective identity and the reconstruction of identity could make possible to reframe and enhance the image that people with HIV have of themselves and the social group to which they belong to as well.

Social stigma in health care to people with HIV/AIDS by healthcare professionals and students. Literature review.

“…A stigma is a degrading social assessment or label that is attached to those who show undesirable social features. Stigmatization is the social process by which degrading social assessments or labels and the consequent emotional or behavioral responses are generated and maintained, thus causing and shaping social exclusion (Elizondo et al, 2015;Guevara-Sotelo & Hoyos-Hernández, 2018;Varas-Díaz et al, 2008;Varas-Díaz & Neilands, 2009;Rivas et al, 2009;Rosa & Varas, 2008). Different studies have revealed that people with HIV are one of the most stigmatized collective groups in the world.…”

“…Different studies have revealed that people with HIV are one of the most stigmatized collective groups in the world. The perception of seriousness of the infection, along with wrong beliefs about its transmission through casual or social contact and the ability of controlling the stigma (blaming people with HIV) influence the detrimental attitudes (Elizondo et al, 2015;Guevara-Sotelo & Hoyos-Hernández, 2018;Varas-Díaz et al, 2008;Varas-Díaz & Neilands, 2009;Varas-Díaz et al, 2017;Wodajo et al, 2017;Rosa & Varas, 2008;Fuster-Ruiz et al, 2016).…”

“…HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination have multiple consequences that affect the development of the epidemic and reinforce the existing social inequalities, especially those related to gender, sexuality and ethnicity (Elizondo et al, 2015;Rivas et al, 2009). The stigma experienced by people with this disease is an obstacle to access to healthcare and treatment continuity (Guevara-Sotelo & Hoyos-Hernández, 2018;Varas-Díaz et al, 2008;Varas-Díaz & Neilands, 2009). The acts of discrimination and stigma against people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) informed by healthcare providers include: lack of will to attend PLWHA, provision of poor health care to PLWHA (compared to other patients), disclosure of the serological status regarding HIV without the patient's permission and referral of PLWHA because the staff refuses to treat them.…”

“…It has, thus, become one of the most fearsome diseases of the century, as it has produced an important negative social perception related to the social stigma. All of this despite the advances in antiretroviral therapy, which has turned this infection into a chronic disease with similar quality of life and life expectancy to those of the rest of the population (Tamayo-Zuluaga et al, 2015;Elizondo et al, 2015;Guevara-Sotelo & Hoyos-Hernández, 2018).…”

“…It also produces social and psychological vulnerability, low self-esteem and anxiety, affecting not only the HIV carrier but also their complete environment, such as family, workmates and friends. On the other hand, it generates fear to death, the reaction of family members and being rejected by society (Tamayo-Zuluaga et al, 2015;Elizondo et al, 2015;Guevara-Sotelo & Hoyos-Hernández, 2018;Lamotte, 2014;Varas-Díaz et al, 2008;…”