title: Gender differences in use of prayer as a self-care strategy for managing symptoms in African Americans living with HIV/AIDS.
abstract: The objective of this study was to explore the association of gender to use of prayer as a self-care strategy for managing the HIV-related symptoms of fatigue, nausea, depression, and anxiety among African American men and women who are HIV-seropositive. To accomplish this, data were determined using convenience sampling from a sample of 448 African American men and women from the United States who were participants in a national study on self-care symptom management of HIV/AIDS. Chi-square analyses were used to examine the potential relationships between gender and the use of prayer for managing the four symptoms. The mean age of the sample was 42.69 +/- 7.93 years (range, 20-66). Results showed the following gender differences in the use of prayer as a self-care strategy: fatigue-men 46% (n = 62), women 54% (n = 74); nausea-men 52% (n = 33), women 48% (n = 30); depression-men 55% (n = 90), women 45% (n = 73); and anxiety-men 77% (n = 83), women 87% (n = 73). Chi-square analyses determined that significant differences exist between African American men and women in the frequency of the use of prayer for managing HIV-related fatigue (chi(2) = 14.81, 1 df, p = .000), nausea (chi(2) = 4.10, 1 df, p =.043), and depression (chi(2) = 5.21, 1 df, p = .022). There was no gender difference in the use of prayer to manage anxiety. Prayer was reported as a self-care strategy by over 50% of the respondents for three of the four symptoms and was rated highly efficacious. The authors conclude that the African American men and women differed in their selection of prayer as a self-care strategy for managing HIV-related depression, fatigue, and nausea. A higher proportion of women than men used prayer to manage fatigue, and more men than women reported using prayer to manage nausea and depression.
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Disparities Research, Graduate Program in Public Health Studies, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadephia, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher Lance
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Coleman
authors.forename: William L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Holzemer
authors.forename: Lucille Sanzero
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Eller
authors.forename: Inge
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Corless
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: Kathleen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Nokes
authors.forename: Jeanne K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kemppainen
authors.forename: Pam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dole
authors.forename: Kenn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kirksey
authors.forename: Liz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Seficik
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nicholas
authors.forename: Mary Jane
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hamilton
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology*; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003863:Depression / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005221:Fatigue / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008571:Men / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D012067:Religion; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D012737:Sex Factors; D029181:Spirituality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*