A study of HIV-positive women in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. : An assessment on how Tanzanian women respond to getting their HIV-diagnosis, how they cope with being infected, and how they are treated by people in their local society. Additionally a collection of reader’s feed back

Abstract

ABSTRACT.

Objective: To investigate how Tanzanian women respond to getting their HIV-diagnosis, to understand how they cope with being infected, and to assess how they are treated by people in their local society. Additionally to collect reader’s feed back on FEMINA’S two booklets, “Living positively with HIV/AIDS” and “AIDS in our community.” Design: Qualitative design. Setting: In the office of the organization FEMINA located in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, in the period 5.-25. of December 2004. Participants: 11 HIV-infected women within the network of the organization PASADA. Results: We found a poor personal motivation for actively seeking to find out one owns HIV-status, leading to a great delay in testing. The women felt it was hard to talk about HIV/AIDS in other than general terms, only letting close friends and family into their secret. Many were rejected by their family, treated with silence, disbelief or avoidance when telling. Even the families who accepted the diagnosis needed time to grief, before eventually becoming fully supportive. The women reported a manifest difference in the behaviors of those who are well informed and the more ignorant ones. All claims there is a lack of knowledge and information in their local society. People denying the problem is yet another challenge. Receiving the diagnose evokes a whole range of different reactions; shock, anger, concern, fear, bitterness and grief. The women we spoke to got help from different organizations after being diagnosed. From counseling they received useful advice on how to live positively. The women embraced this knowledge, and tried to live in the best way possible. FEMINA’S two booklets were regarded as very useful and sufficient. Conclusion: Motivation for testing was experiencing illness at close range, or being tested when pregnant. The interviews all reflect the great stigma present in Dar Es Salaam. It is hard to be HIV-positive, and many were reluctant to tell it to friends and family due to all the misconceptions existing. More knowledge about HIV and AIDS lead to a more rational and fair treatment of those who have the disease, except for in those where fear leads to denial. Receiving the message that you are HIV-positive is overwhelming, and it takes time to accept it. NGOs and concrete information about the disease is very helpful in this process. The women were actively trying to take control over their life, and preserve their health. They reported a great need for more valid information and counseling to help the infected, and fight the stigma in the society.