title: "You comfort yourself and believe in yourself": exploring lived experiences of stigma in HIV-positive Kenyan women.
abstract: HIV-related stigma has a negative effect on women's health and can hinder interventions aimed at eradicating HIV. In Kenya, women withstand the worst of HIV-related stigma, because they are the most affected. In this longitudinal qualitative study, we explored experiences of stigma among 54 HIV-positive Kenyan women. Using Goffman's stigma definition and Foucault's social construction of stigma to analyze women's narratives, two main themes emerged: (1) women's experience of socially constructed HIV-related stigma and (2) women's resistance of socially constructed HIV-related stigma. Even though women are creative in resisting HIV-related stigma, psychological impact of stigma can hinder HIV prevention, care, treatment, and support. Interventions that empower women are critical in reducing HIV-related stigma.
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, College of Nursing, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201-0413, USA. pmkako@uwm.edu
authors.forename: Peninnah M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Kako
authors.forename: Rebekah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dubrosky
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D033262:Narration; D011209:Power, Psychological; D011287:Prejudice; D012059:Rejection, Psychology; D055500:Resilience, Psychological; D020377:Self Efficacy; D057545:Social Stigma; D012944:Social Support