Rachel Ramovha, Lunic B. Khoza, Rachel T. Lebese and Hildah N. Shilubane
South Africa has one of the fastest growing rates of new HIV infection in the world. It is estimated that 5.7 million people in South Africa were infected with HIV. A combination of poverty, illiteracy, migrant labour, commercial sex workers and disruption of family and communal life has increased the individual’s risk of infection. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the psychological experiences of HIV/AIDS by infected persons in Hospital A in the Vhembe district of Limpopo Province. The research design was qualitative, exploratory and descriptive, using the phenomenological approach. The target group for this study were males and females who visited the institution seeking health care, whose blood samples were found to be HIV positive, between the ages of 18 and 49 years at Hospital A in the Vhembe district of Limpopo Province. A convenience sampling method was used. Data was collected through in-depth unstructured one-to-one interview. Three phases suggested by Miles and Huberman were used which are: data display; in data reduction and lastly during data interpretation. Measures to ensure trustworthiness and ethical issues were ensured. The effects of HIV/AIDS on the infected persons were identified and the following theme and sub-theme: Psychological experiences, factors contributory to psychological imbalance and observations. Living with HIV/AIDS poses tremendous psychological and physical challenges to those who are infected. The experience of HIV-related symptoms is a significant part of that challenge. The physical and psychological symptoms are profoundly disruptive and impact on almost every aspect of daily life.
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