The experience of living with HIV is embedded with stigma and discrimination deeply rooted in the socio-cultural context. Women living with HIV (WLWH) endure complex issues due to the patriarchal structure of society in India. This study endeavors to understand structural factors affecting the healthcare of WLWH using the theoretical framework of autobiographical narratives. Open-ended interviews are conducted for this study with WLWH resulting in 11 in-depth interviews of WLWH that are used for analysis. The interviews are constructed into narratives, and grounded theory approach is used to generate codes. Further, constant comparison method is used to discern common themes among these narratives. The theoretical framework of memory specificity is used to explore the experiences of WLWH. The results of this study are broadly categorized into three themes, namely physical healthcare, psychological healthcare, and reproductive healthcare. There is a need to focus on gender-based contextual factors to improve healthcare access as well as healthcare seeking among WLWH.
The main aim of this review article is to outline the factors linked to vulnerability of women to HIV infection and to understand the challenges and possible management of HIV among women. The review is a theoretical endeavour to understand women’s experiences of living with HIV. This review primarily focuses on studies in the Indian set-up, but to further substantiate the arguments and describe the relevant concepts it also takes into account literature from other cultures. On the basis of studies included in this article, it can be surmised that women are more susceptible to HIV due to cultural barriers, health vulnerabilities and social structures. They show less awareness about the treatment facilities, prevention strategies and perceived risk of infection. Women have to face numerous challenges after the infection, such as lack of social support, a higher level of stigma and discrimination, decreased quality of life, mental health issues and adverse coping. To prevent the spread of HIV among women as well as men, it is necessary to plan strategies which deal with empowerment of women, education and awareness regarding the vulnerabilities and knowledge and challenges of HIV infection. There is also a need to address the management of HIV among the infected and even those at risk. This article describes the possible interventions based on existing literature. The review also attempts to suggest certain future directions for the research.
Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, this study used an interpretative phenomenological analysis to explore the lived experiences of healthcare professionals (HCPs). Twenty in-depth interviews were conducted with nine physicians and 11 paramedical staff. The analysis is summarized into five superordinate themes: initial reaction, perceived challenges, existential distress, the building of support mechanisms, and growth in adversity. While the first three themes broadly reflect the difficulties encountered by HCPs while serving COVID-19 patients, the last two themes demonstrate the scope of finding meaning in work and personal growth during this unprecedented public health emergency. This study also highlights the heavy toll of the physical and psychological burdens on HCPs due to the COVID-19 health crisis. The insights gained from this study can be utilized in designing an effective intervention program to promote resilience and well-being among HCPs.
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