Women from Africa living with HIV in London: a descriptive study

Abstract

There are no studies that have examined the particular needs and experiences of African women living with HIV in the UK at a time when they represent an increasingly large proportion of the UK HIV epidemic. This study explores the illness biographies and daily lives of HIV-positive African women receiving treatment in London. Sixty-two women from 11 African countries attending HIV specialist clinics in five London hospitals participated in self-completion questionnaires and in depth semi-structured interviews. Using a narrative approach, women were asked to talk about their HIV status in the broader context of their life history. Important differences exist within this group based mainly on nationality, income, education level and legal status in the UK. However, marked similarities also emerged which were related in part to their situation as migrants and were compounded by their illness. Stigma, both actual and perceived, had a profound impact on women's lives, making control of information about their situation a matter of acute concern. This had an effect on how women accessed health services and voluntary sector agencies. The resilience of women in dealing with difficulties in their lives was strengthened by religious belief. Such similarities and differences need to be properly understood by health and social care professionals if they are to offer the most appropriate care for this growing population of patients.

REACH: a mixed-methods study to investigate the measurement, prediction and improvement of retention and engagement in outpatient HIV care

“…Previous research has found that real and perceived stigma can seriously undermine access to HIV care and other support services. 32,34,35 We found that stigma had a strong impact on attendance and the findings suggest that the necessary conditions for dropping out of care were underpinned by self-stigma. Symptoms of psychological distress are highly prevalent among PLWH and have also been associated with poorer adherence to ART.…”

“…22 Some studies have used qualitative methods and psychometric measures to try and understand why patients do not engage with care. HIV stigma is found to be a significant barrier [32][33][34][35] and health beliefs may also deter people from attending for care. 36 A qualitative study on non-attendance of HIV clinics in Scotland highlighted issues of mental health, isolation, stigma, poverty and complex social circumstances as contributing to disengagement from care.…”

Social, Behavioural, and Intervention Research among People of Sub-Saharan African Origin Living with HIV in the UK and Europe: Literature Review and Recommendations for Intervention

“…Second, lack of information about sexual health services means that Africans often do not know where to access testing (Chinouya & Davidson, 2003;Chinouya, Musoro, & O'Keefe, 2003;Erwin & Peters, 1999;McMunn, Mwanje, & Pozniak, 1997;Traore, 2002). Third, uncertain immigration status is a powerful deterrent to seeking an HIV test and accessing care (Anderson & Doyal, 2004;Flowers et al, 2006;Maharaj, Warwick, & Whitty, 1996). Psychosocial pressures linked to immigration concerns and poverty may leave many Africans unable to cope with a positive diagnosis, as described by a qualitative study with people of sub-Saharan African origin living in France: 'You don't want to know if you have it, you want to carry on living as before.…”

HIV-Related Discrimination Reported by People Living with HIV in London, UK

“…The question we asked about discrimination was rather broad so may not have fully captured the textured and nuanced aspects of perceived and actual discrimination (Anderson & Doyal, 2004). All participants in this study had at least two stigmatised identities; they were all HIV positive and they were also gay or black African.…”