TY - JOUR
T1 - Exploring the impacts of and reactions to HIV diagnosis in older adults
T2 - narratives from Ga-Rankuwa, South Africa
AU - Nyashanu, Mathew
AU - Lekalakala-Mokgele, Eucebious
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Author(s). Co-published by NISC Pty (Ltd) and Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - There is an increase in prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among older adults. This new emerging social group is being overlooked, owing to the focus on groups that have traditionally been regarded as “high risk”. This article set out to explore the impact of and reaction to HIV infection among older adults at the point of diagnosis. This study used a qualitative exploratory design that included a purposive sample of older adults currently receiving HIV treatment. The researchers recruited 12 participants who met the study’s inclusion criteria. Face-to-face interviews were used to collect data. A thematic approach was used to analyse the data. The study found that the impact on and reaction of older adults following HIV diagnosis included anger and shock, feeling suicidal, blaming others, fear of stigma and discrimination, loss of trust and intimacy, fear of disclosure to new partners and denial. The study concluded that there is a need to improve sexual health and HIV services that cater for the needs of older adults as a new emerging group affected by HIV. Furthermore, HIV testing and prevention counselling should be offered to older adults just as it is to younger patients.
AB - There is an increase in prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among older adults. This new emerging social group is being overlooked, owing to the focus on groups that have traditionally been regarded as “high risk”. This article set out to explore the impact of and reaction to HIV infection among older adults at the point of diagnosis. This study used a qualitative exploratory design that included a purposive sample of older adults currently receiving HIV treatment. The researchers recruited 12 participants who met the study’s inclusion criteria. Face-to-face interviews were used to collect data. A thematic approach was used to analyse the data. The study found that the impact on and reaction of older adults following HIV diagnosis included anger and shock, feeling suicidal, blaming others, fear of stigma and discrimination, loss of trust and intimacy, fear of disclosure to new partners and denial. The study concluded that there is a need to improve sexual health and HIV services that cater for the needs of older adults as a new emerging group affected by HIV. Furthermore, HIV testing and prevention counselling should be offered to older adults just as it is to younger patients.
KW - AIDS
KW - community
KW - health promotion
KW - risk perception
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85138332630&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.2989/16085906.2022.2042339
DO - 10.2989/16085906.2022.2042339
M3 - Article
C2 - 36102041
AN - SCOPUS:85138332630
SN - 1608-5906
VL - 21
SP - 213
EP - 220
JO - African Journal of AIDS Research
JF - African Journal of AIDS Research
IS - 3
ER -