Rejection, Current Suffering in the Lives of People with HIV/AIDS: A Qualitative Study in Iran

Background: People with HIV/AIDS face numerous challenges, including the effect of the disease on their personal relationships with family, friends, colleagues, and healthcare professionals. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate social interactions among patients with HIV/AIDS. Materials & Methods: This qualitative content analysis study was conducted on 12 patients with HIV/AIDS referring to the Behavioral‌ Disease Counseling Centers of Tehran and Rasht (Iran) in 2018. Semi-structured, face-to-face, and audio-recorded interviews were used to collect data. Purposive sampling with maximum variation was used to select participants. The duration of the interview was between 40 to 75 min. MAXQDA10 software was used for data organization and management, and conventional content analysis was used for data analysis. Results: From the analysis of interviews with 12 individuals with HIV/AIDS (7 men and 5 women), 51 codes were extracted in three categories: disease disclosure (disclosure to important people in life, disclosure to public and health services, and dealing with the challenges of disclosure), social support (impairment in interpersonal relationships and relationships with peers), and acceptance (social acceptance and acceptance by health care providers). Conclusion: Despite significant progress in HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and education, the stigma caused by this disease remains high and has a negative impact on the interpersonal relationships of PLWHA with their families, relatives, friends, colleagues, and healthcare providers.