Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), University of Ghana, P. O. Box LG 74, Legon, Ghana.
BMC Public Health. 2022 Mar 18;22(1):538. doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-12809-6.
Ready acceptance of experiences of new diagnoses among HIV-positive persons is a known personal and public health safety-net. Its beneficial effects include prompt commencement and sustenance of HIV-positive treatment and care, better management of transmission risk, and disclosure of the HIV-positive status to significant others. Yet, no known study has explored this topic in Ghana; despite Ghana's generalised HIV/AIDS infection rate. Existing studies have illuminated the effects of such reactions on affected significant others; not the infected.
This paper studied qualitatively the experiences of new diagnoses among 26 persons living with HIV/AIDS. Sample selection was random, from two hospitals in a district in Ghana heavily affected by HIV/AIDS. The paper applied the Hopelessness Theory of Depression.
As expected, the vast majority of respondents experienced the new diagnoses of their HIV-positive infection with a myriad of negative psychosocial reactions, including thoughts of committing suicide. Yet, few of them received the news with resignation. For the vast majority of respondents, having comorbidities from AIDS prior to the diagnosis primarily shaped their initial reactions to their diagnosis. The respondents' transitioning to self-acceptance of their HIV-positive status was mostly facilitated by receiving counselling from healthcare workers.
Although the new HIV-positive diagnosis was immobilising to most respondents, the trauma faded, paving the way for beneficial public health actions. The results imply the critical need for continuous education on HIV/AIDS by public health advocates, using mass media, particularly, TV. Healthcare workers in VCTs should empathise with persons who experience new diagnoses of their HIV-positive status.
HIV 阳性者对新诊断结果的欣然接受是一种已知的个人和公共卫生安全网。其有益影响包括及时开始并维持 HIV 阳性的治疗和护理，更好地管理传播风险，以及向重要他人透露 HIV 阳性状况。然而，在加纳这个普遍存在 HIV/AIDS 感染率的国家，尚未有研究探讨这一话题。
本文对 26 名 HIV/AIDS 感染者的新诊断结果进行了定性研究。样本是从加纳一个受 HIV/AIDS 严重影响的地区的两家医院中随机选择的。本文应用了抑郁的绝望理论。
不出所料，绝大多数受访者在得知自己 HIV 阳性感染后，经历了无数负面的心理社会反应，包括自杀念头。然而，只有少数人对此表示听天由命。对于绝大多数受访者来说，在诊断前患有艾滋病合并症主要塑造了他们对诊断的最初反应。受访者从医护人员那里获得咨询后，逐渐接受了自己的 HIV 阳性状态，从而实现了自我认同。
尽管新的 HIV 阳性诊断对大多数受访者来说是一种打击，但创伤逐渐消失，为有益的公共卫生行动铺平了道路。结果表明，公共卫生倡导者急需通过大众媒体，特别是电视，对 HIV/AIDS 进行持续教育。VCT 中的医护人员应该对经历 HIV 阳性诊断的人表示同情。
