Lived Experiences of Adolescent Living with human immunodeficiency virus in Ghana: A Phenomenology Study.
Abdul-Razak Doat, Elham Navab, Akram Sadat Sadat Hoseini
PMID 33318837WHAT IT FOUND
Twelve Ghanaian adolescents with HIV described pervasive stigma, guilt, and fear of death that made disclosure dangerous.
Three of twelve had their status leaked without consent, leading to job loss or isolation. Suicidal thoughts were common after diagnosis.
Key findings
01Stigma and fear of rejection caused most participants to hide their HIV status from partners and friends, while illegal disclosure by others led to social isolation and job loss.
02A majority of participants experienced psychological distress, including suicidal thoughts, fear of premature death, and hopelessness upon learning their diagnosis.
03Participants struggled with low self-esteem and shame, often avoiding clinic visits or daily activities due to fear of being identified as HIV-positive.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The sample size was small (12 participants), limiting the transferability of the findings to all adolescents living with HIV in Ghana or other regions. Participants were recruited from a single hospital clinic in the northern region, which may not represent the experiences of those in other regions or settings. The study relied on self-reported experiences, which may be influenced by social desirability or recall bias. Some prospective participants were excluded because they did not know their HIV status, potentially missing experiences related to undiagnosed infection.
Declared interests
The authors declared no competing interests. The study was funded by Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services.
The easy way to misread this
Do not generalize these findings to all adolescents living with HIV. The study included only twelve participants from a single clinic in northern Ghana, and their experiences of stigma and disclosure are deeply shaped by specific local cultural and societal beliefs about HIV as a moral failing.