Terms Used for People Living with HIV in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Overview

Journal Qual Health Res

Publisher Sage Publications

Specialty Health Services

Date 2014 Jan 28

PMID 24463633

Citations 4

Authors

Bavon Mupenda

Sandra Duvall

Suzanne Maman

Audrey Pettifor

Christina Holub

Eboni Taylor

Stuart Rennie

Mujalambo Kashosi

Mamie Lema

Frieda Behets

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

For this study we conducted in-depth interviews with 29 youth living with HIV (YLWH) and key informant interviews with 8 HIV care/support providers. We describe terms used to portray people living with HIV (PLWH) in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Labels commonly used, mostly derogatory, described PLWH as walking corpses, dangers to others, or people deserving to die before others get infected. Blame and other accusations were directed at PLWH through anchoring or objectification. Being labeled sometimes made these youth suffer in silence, afraid to disclose their status, or avoid performing actions in public, preferring to let others do them. YLWH need psychosocial support to mitigate the harmful effects of these labels and strengthen their coping skills, whereas community, institutional, and national efforts are needed for stigma reduction.

Citing Articles

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