Abstract
When it comes to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, there is a growing population that is
being overlooked due to a prolonging misconception about HIV/AIDS being a disease of the
young adults. The introduction of the highly active antiretroviral therapy has allowed the
survival of the elderly after diagnosis. Because of the perception that HIV is a disease of the
young adults, HIV disclosure of positive serostatus has become an area of concern among the
elderly. It is therefore the aim of this study to focus on the factors that influence disclosure
among the elderly. A qualitative study with the application of phenomenological approach was
carried out to find out factors that influence disclosure among the elderly. Sample data was
obtained from 14 participants aged 50 years and above who attended Shurugwi District Hospital
for ART. Using the convenience sampling technique, the researcher was able to select those
patients who were easily accessible until sample size was reached. The main findings from the
research indicated that fear of stigma was the main reason that hindered the elderly to freely
disclose their HIV positive serostatus. Stigma was found to cut across all the interactions in the
social lives of these elderly people living with HIV in Shurugwi. Due to fear of stigma, findings
from the research highlighted that the elderly used various strategies to cope with a positive HIV
serostatus in a stigmatized environment. The researcher used interpretive thematic analysis that
allowed coding of findings. Stigma was found to play a major role in hindering disclosure of a
positive HIV status among the elderly people in Shurugwi. In order to reduce the negative
consequences of disclosure, the general population should be educated about the importance of
disclosure so that perceived consequences of disclosure like stigma can be reduced and
prevented.
VANDIRAYI, S (2021). Factors That Influence Hiv Status Disclosure Among The Elderly In Shurugwi. Afribary. Retrieved from https://tracking.afribary.com/works/factors-that-influence-hiv-status-disclosure-among-the-elderly-in-shurugwi
VANDIRAYI, SHELTER "Factors That Influence Hiv Status Disclosure Among The Elderly In Shurugwi" Afribary. Afribary, 09 May. 2021, https://tracking.afribary.com/works/factors-that-influence-hiv-status-disclosure-among-the-elderly-in-shurugwi. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.
VANDIRAYI, SHELTER . "Factors That Influence Hiv Status Disclosure Among The Elderly In Shurugwi". Afribary, Afribary, 09 May. 2021. Web. 24 Nov. 2024. < https://tracking.afribary.com/works/factors-that-influence-hiv-status-disclosure-among-the-elderly-in-shurugwi >.
VANDIRAYI, SHELTER . "Factors That Influence Hiv Status Disclosure Among The Elderly In Shurugwi" Afribary (2021). Accessed November 24, 2024. https://tracking.afribary.com/works/factors-that-influence-hiv-status-disclosure-among-the-elderly-in-shurugwi