“HIV is a Story, not Life”: Resilience among South Asian Women living with HIV in Canada
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47985/dcidj.553Keywords:
Resilience, South Asian, women, HIV/AIDS, disabilityAbstract
Purpose: This study aimed to understand how immigrant South Asian women living with HIV in Canada develop resilience and to identify their self-management strategies. These strategies could be used by marginalised women and can be supported by health providers.
Method: The study participants were eight South Asian women with HIV, living in Ontario, Canada. The women belonged to an urban HIV community organisation. Qualitative methods were used to investigate their experiences. In-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted, utilising a photo/object elicitation technique, to identify the strategies used to develop resilience.
Results: The women were primarily in mid-adulthood (age range 39-60 years) and had lived for many years with HIV (range 8-25 years). Thematic analysis of the interview transcripts revealed three themes characterising strategies for resilience: identifying the need for self-care, maintaining social connectivity, and remaining optimistic.
Conclusion and Implications: With these strategies, the women had cultivated strength and perseverance in adjusting to adversity. Viewing the resilience of South Asian immigrant women living with HIV through a cultural lens could help to understand and facilitate the development of culturally acceptable self-management strategies.
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