CABARAN HIDUP PENGHIDAP HIV DALAM KALANGAN WANITA

The spread of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been detected for almost 40 years, beginning in the 1980s and still remains a global health issue. HIV-positive infections can now be detected in almost all countries, including Malaysia. The cross-border, complex, dynamic and unpredictable nature of HIV makes the epidemic a global issue and not simply a domestic issue of any particular country. The changing trends of infection are also causing fear to many as more cases are being detected among individuals not involved in risky activities, such as drug abuse and prostitution among women and teenagers. Consequently, the challenges faced by persons with HIV are different for every segment. Specifically, HIV-positive women (PHW) have also been found to face more severe consequences than their male counterparts due to factors such as inequality of power and opportunities and gender differences. This study is conducted to examine the challenges and their effects to understanding what PHWs face. A qualitative study conducted on 20 PHWs found various challenges faced by these women, such as unstable health; being stigmatised and discriminated against; and negatively labelled by family members and members of society in various situations. The challenges faced by the PHWs indirectly affect many aspects of their lives, such as receiving insufficient social support; denied rights and opportunities to seek treatment and employment; barred from community activities; inability to make decisions; and always being in a state of grief, frustration and stress. Therefore, support is desperately needed by the PHW to rebuild their lives.