title: Where will this illness take me? Reactions to HIV diagnosis from women living with HIV in Kenya.
abstract: The purpose of our study was to develop an in-depth understanding of the reactions of 40 urban and rural HIV-infected Kenyan women to HIV diagnosis. We employed narrative inquiry principles to guide this qualitative cross-sectional study. We conducted individual in-depth interviews using open-ended questions in April and May 2006. In this article we focus on women's reactions to HIV diagnosis, under which four subthemes emerged: immediate intense emotions; keeping HIV status secret; acceptance of HIV diagnosis; and finding liberation in disclosure. We offer important implications for health care professionals serving women in sub-Saharan Africa from the findings of our study.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 53201, USA. pmkako@uwm.edu
authors.forename: Peninnah M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Kako
authors.forename: Patricia E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: Anna K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Karani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007630:Kenya; D008875:Middle Aged; D011287:Prejudice; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012424:Rural Population; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014342:Truth Disclosure; D014505:Urban Population