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The experience of HIV/AIDS among rural women in the Northwestern United States: A qualitative analysis
Author(s) -
MphandeFinn Joyce T.,
SommersFlanagan John
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.585
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1520-6629
pISSN - 0090-4392
DOI - 10.1002/jcop.20130
Subject(s) - betrayal , abandonment (legal) , grief , qualitative research , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , social support , psychology , emotional support , medicine , social psychology , psychotherapist , family medicine , sociology , political science , social science , law
The unique experience of HIV/AIDS among rural women in the UnitedStates was explored using qualitative interviews with 7 women who areHIV positive. Based on these interviews, eight themes emerged. Theseincluded (a) daily powerful emotions, (b) emotional and physicalabandonment, (c) romantic betrayal, (d) medical treatment issues, (e) lossand grief, (f) appreciating a good support system, (g) renewed purpose forliving, and (h) personal growth and transformation. Results are discussedwith regard to future research and practice with rural women withHIV/AIDS, with an emphasis on the importance of social support andcounseling opportunities in facilitating women's progress through theemotional process associated with HIV/AIDS diagnosis and treatment.© 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.