How to Understand the Experience of Persons Living with HIV: Implications for Clinical Practice and Research

Abstract

Objective: Those who live with chronic disease undergo complex processes of personal transformation to adapt to their new health condition. The aim of this article is to show what it means to live with HIV for persons who have been diagnosed with AIDS. Materials and methods: This is a descriptive qualitative study based on 15 people who are living with HIV/AIDS and being treated through the Chilean public health system. Results: The content analysis showed six dimensions of what it means to live with the disease: personal changes after the diagnosis, social support and accompaniment, being resigned to having contracted HIV, perceived discrimination / rejection, disclosure of the diagnosis, and protecting others from contracting HIV. Conclusion: The findings can provide guidance to health professionals on the strategies that should be used in providing direct care to persons living with HIV. In this respect, the goal is to offer comprehensive care, taking into account support for the development of self-care strategies and disclosure of the diagnosis to the patient ́s family and close friends, so as to reduce the psycho-social costs of the disease.