Descriptions of stigma among women living with HIV/AIDS (WLWHAs) in Thailand

ABSTRACT

Persons with HIV/AIDS live with several unwanted or negative effects often called "double stigma" from a genderized inequality and bias perspective when compared with men who have HIV/AIDS. The purpose of this study was to describe the lived experience of fourteen women living with HIV/AIDS from the Northern Upper Thailand area. The data collection included in-depth interviews describing their experiences and enhanced by field notes. Content analysis was used to analyze the data. Trustworthiness was established using the criteria by Lincoln and Guba. The findings of the study revealed that women living with HIV/AIDS are more stigmatized than men with HIV/AIDS. These women continue to live while maintaining multiple roles such as care givers, housekeepers, mothers and as active members of society. The following descriptions of stigma provided thematic categories of the lived experience personal-stigma, inferiority-stigma, and social stigma. Personal-stigma showed that these women were being "looked down upon," were ashamed and often blamed themselves for their current situation. These women also expressed inferiority-stigma in which other members of their social group insulted and disregarded them as members. Social-stigma was reported in situations of inequality with others. These findings may provide directions to design interventions to assist WLWHAs cope with the diagnosis of the disease and to promote their quality of life.