Lelaka Constance Matshidiso, Moyo Idah, Tshivhase Livhuwani, Mavhandu-Mudzusi Azwihangwisi Helen
Institute for Gender Studies, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa.
Department of Health Studies, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa.
Health Psychol Behav Med. 2022 Jun 16;10(1):537-556. doi: 10.1080/21642850.2022.2084098. eCollection 2022.
South Africa has the largest HIV epidemic, with 8.2 million people living with the virus. It has a high HIV prevalence of 13.7% and 230,000 new infections in 2020. It is estimated that HIV serodiscordant couples contribute up to 60% of new HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa. However, there have been no specific programmes/activities to deliberately cater for couples in HIV serodiscordant relationships. The purpose of this study was to examine the psychosocial support provided for HIV serodiscordant couples both in health care settings and in the community.
An interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) design was utilised for this study. In-depth interviews were conducted with thirteen HIV serodiscordant couples. Data collection was guided by an interview guide. All audio-recorded interview data were transcribed verbatim into written text. Data analysis was conducted using an interpretative phenomenological analysis framework. A third person-an expert in qualitative research, acted as an independent co-coder and conducted the open coding of each transcript.
The findings indicated that HIV serodiscordant couples received psychosocial support from their partners, family, and health care workers. This support was emotional, or in the form of counselling, reminders on taking medication, financial and household chores. The support provided by health care providers proved to be deficient and did not address the diverse needs of this group.
Psychosocial support plays a critical role in enhancing the quality of life of HIV serodiscordant couples. Therefore, client centred, and tailor-made interventions should be made available to this special with diverse needs group.
南非是艾滋病疫情最为严重的国家，有820万人感染了该病毒。其艾滋病病毒感染率高达13.7%，2020年新增感染病例达23万例。据估计，在撒哈拉以南非洲地区，艾滋病病毒血清学不一致的夫妇所导致的新增艾滋病病毒感染病例占比高达60%。然而，目前尚无专门针对艾滋病病毒血清学不一致夫妇的特定项目/活动。本研究的目的是调查在医疗保健机构和社区中为艾滋病病毒血清学不一致夫妇提供的心理社会支持。
本研究采用解释现象学分析（IPA）设计。对13对艾滋病病毒血清学不一致的夫妇进行了深入访谈。数据收集以访谈指南为指导。所有录音访谈数据均逐字转录为书面文本。数据分析采用解释现象学分析框架进行。由第三人——一位定性研究专家担任独立的共同编码员，对每份转录本进行开放编码。
结果表明，艾滋病病毒血清学不一致的夫妇从其伴侣、家人和医护人员那里获得了心理社会支持。这种支持包括情感支持、咨询、服药提醒、经济支持和家务帮助。事实证明，医护人员提供的支持存在不足，无法满足这一群体的多样化需求。
心理社会支持在提高艾滋病病毒血清学不一致夫妇的生活质量方面起着关键作用。因此，应针对这一有多样化需求的特殊群体提供以客户为中心的量身定制的干预措施。
