Women from Africa living with HIV in London: a descriptive study

• Published in: AIDS care Vol. 16; no. 1; pp. 95 - 105
• Main Authors: Anderson, J., Doyal, L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon healthsciences 01.01.2004; Taylor & Francis; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome; Adult; Africa - ethnology; African Continental Ancestry Group - ethnology; African Cultural Groups; African people; Africans; AIDS; AIDS/HIV; Biographies; Biological and medical sciences; Emigration and Immigration; England; Experiences; Female; Females; Health care; HIV; HIV Infections - ethnology; HIV Infections - psychology; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human viral diseases; Humans; Illness; Immigrants; Infectious diseases; Lifestyles; London; London - epidemiology; London, England; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Needs Assessment; Patient Acceptance of Health Care - psychology; Prejudice; Prevention and actions; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Self Evaluation; Specific populations (family, woman, child, elderly...); Stigma; Truth Disclosure; United Kingdom; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; Women; United Kingdom; Europe; Africa; London; London England; British Isles; Social environment; Human; Origin; Immunopathology; Immigrant; Stigma; Daily living; AIDS; Health service; Immune deficiency; Infection; Treatment; Viral disease; Cultural environment; Female; Public health; User need
• ISSN: 0954-0121; 1360-0451
• DOI: 10.1080/09540120310001634001

There are no studies that have examined the particular needs and experiences of African women living with HIV in the UK at a time when they represent an increasingly large proportion of the UK HIV epidemic. This study explores the illness biographies and daily lives of HIV-positive African women receiving treatment in London. Sixty-two women from 11 African countries attending HIV specialist clinics in five London hospitals participated in self-completion questionnaires and in depth semi-structured interviews. Using a narrative approach, women were asked to talk about their HIV status in the broader context of their life history. Important differences exist within this group based mainly on nationality, income, education level and legal status in the UK. However, marked similarities also emerged which were related in part to their situation as migrants and were compounded by their illness. Stigma, both actual and perceived, had a profound impact on women's lives, making control of information about their situation a matter of acute concern. This had an effect on how women accessed health services and voluntary sector agencies. The resilience of women in dealing with difficulties in their lives was strengthened by religious belief. Such similarities and differences need to be properly understood by health and social care professionals if they are to offer the most appropriate care for this growing population of patients.