Women coping with AIDS in Africa: contributions of a contextually grounded research methodology.
The primary objective of this report is to describe a contextually grounded approach to the investigation of coping and psychological functioning in AIDS-sick mothers. Five AIDS-sick women on antiretroviral therapy who had at least one child under 6 years of age living in their households were interviewed. Among the issues that emerged was the complexity of the women's psychological functioning, the fact that they made strategic decisions about disclosure aimed at protecting important social support networks, and that their well-being was dynamically influenced by factors in the home and community. The study provides evidence for the value of a contextual approach when investigating the psychological functioning of HIV positive mothers living in poor high-HIV prevalence communities in developing countries.
Brandt
René
R
Centre for Social Science Research, University of Cape Town, and Child, Youth and Family Development, Human Sciences Research Council, South Africa. renebrandt@eject.co.za
Dawes
Andrew
A
Bray
Rachel
R
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D012107:Research Design