Finding Health with HIV: A Nonlinear and Complex Journey (2010)

Undergraduate: Anita Rao

Faculty Advisor: Michele Berger
Department: Women's and Gender Studies

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As the proportion of HIV/AIDS diagnoses among women increases, it is imperative that we address the research gaps ignoring the unique implications of HIV/AIDS for women. A lack of knowledge about HIV positive women’s responses to stigma, societal oppression and political marginalization is problematic, thus it is crucial to examine the virus through individual experiences. Through in depth interviews with four HIV positive women, this research questioned what constitutes ‘healthy living’ for women who are HIV positive. The results are analyzed in two categories indicating that women’s approaches to healthy living relied upon 1) establishing routines and 2) reclaiming agency. The women explain how formalizing a medical routine encouraged a search for support networks and modes of spiritual practice. They also emphasized the importance of reclaiming agency through pursuing positive patient/doctor relationships, changing sexual habits and engaging in productive work. Results indicate that HIV positive women have a unique set of health concerns that require access to holistic health treatment and emotional support. Three of the women were involved in sex work and drug use, two factors common among HIV positive women, and their comments reflect how society both supports and marginalizes these women. With more than 280,000 women in the US living with HIV/AIDS, it is important to analyze barriers in their pursuits of health in order to address obstacles unique to women.