"I Look in the Mirror and Say 'You Know What, There Is Hope for You'"-An Interpretative Qualitative Study of Current and Future Well-Being in Black African Women Older Than 50 Years With HIV in the United Kingdom.

Abstract

Abstract: Effective antiretroviral treatment means that people with HIV are living for longer. This includes Black African women, who represent a large proportion of people aging with HIV in the United Kingdom. Despite this, the impact of living and aging with HIV on the well-being of Black African women aging with HIV has not been investigated. Interpretative phenomenological analysis of interviews with eight Black African women ages 50 years and older living with HIV developed six superordinate themes. Findings demonstrated how experiences of HIV-related stigma negatively affected social, occupational, and psychological well-being. Perspectives on living and aging with HIV into the future included experiences of acceptance, uncertainty, anxiety, and hope. Recommendations are made, including developing clinical practice to consider needs relating to social and psychological well-being, as well as physical well-being, for women aging with HIV.