Weathering the storm
Date
2003
Authors
Hiebert, Walter Gerhard
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Abstract
The purpose of this ethnographic study was to explore women's experiences of living with HIV / AIDS. Five women diagnosed with HIV / AIDS were interviewed using an unstructured interview format. The interviews were analysed using an ethnographic approach (de Laine, 1997; Spradley, 1980). Three common themes emerged: feeling limited hope, experiencing inconsistent health care, and transforming from victim to advocate.
The research findings encapsulated the narratives of five women confronting the most difficult health challenge of their lives. Living with HIV/ AIDS is a complex and powerful experience for these women, one that provided the impetus for them to embark on a journey of creative self-discovery.