Coping With Acquired Immune Deficiency Infection: A Phenomenological Study

Introduction: The epidemic of HIV infection is a serious health problem with major effects on people’s lives. It is essential to comprehend the lived experience of life with HIV. Therefore, the present research was conducted for a better understanding of the meaning and nature of life with this phenomenon. Method: This qualitative study was conducted using an interpretative, phenomenological approach. ۱۹ HIV-infected patients were coosen by purposive sampling method. Audio-taped, indepth, and semi-structured interviews and field notes were used for data collection. All the interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed by using the hermeneutic approach developed by Diekelmann. Results: According to the findings, the ۱۹ participants were between ۲۱-۵۶ years of age in ۴۷.۴% CD۴ count was under or equal to ۲۰۰ cells/mm۳ and the others were in an earlier phase of HIV infection. The main themes were beliefs and time, other HIV patients, inconsistencies in coping, and fighting and struggling. Conclusion: People with HIV/AIDS diagnosis face many challenges in different aspects of their lives. Some can not cope with their new situation effectively and may be threatening to both their own and others people’s lives. Understanding these patients' experiences and explaining the positive experinces to other patients, and giving them support and guidance is suggested to care givers.

Keywords:

HIV/AIDS , Lived experience , Coping , Phenomenology