Gender differences in use of prayer as a self-care strategy for managing symptoms in African Americans living with HIV/AIDS.
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.
Coleman
Christopher Lance
CL
Center for Health Disparities Research, Graduate Program in Public Health Studies, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadephia, USA.
Holzemer
William L
WL
Eller
Lucille Sanzero
LS
Corless
Inge
I
Reynolds
Nancy
N
Nokes
Kathleen M
KM
Kemppainen
Jeanne K
JK
Dole
Pam
P
Kirksey
Kenn
K
Seficik
Liz
L
Nicholas
Patrice
P
Hamilton
Mary Jane
MJ
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*