Expression of the Spiritual Experiences of AIDS (HIV) Infected Women: A Qualitative Study

Spirituality can affect the patients’ perception of health, disease, and interaction with other individuals. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is more stressful in women due to their maternal role and reproductivity; therefore, coping with the disease is more difficult for women than for men.

This qualitative study tried to investigate experiences, as well as spiritual perception and its role, in the lives of women positive for HIV using conventional content analysis. Therefore, the present study was carried out on 15 women positive for HIV referring to the Behavioral Diseases Counseling Center of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran, Iran. The data collection was conducted through in-depth semi-structured interviews.

In the analysis of the interviews, after being infected, two spirituality groups were categorized into three subgroups, including 1) compliance with the disease, 2) belief in divine destiny, and 3) responsible behaviors to obtain God's satisfaction. The spirituality group and disease charges group were extracted divided into two subgroups of 1) divine punishment and 2) feeling of guilt.

Regarding the role of spirituality in coping with and enduring HIV among patients, it is recommended to perform interventions on women with HIV based on spirituality and religious beliefs, as well as decrease of the disease charges in societies. It is also suggested that caregivers in risky behaviors counseling centers should be trained in the domains of spirituality and spiritual well-being. Moreover, the caregivers can use the religious beliefs of the infected patients to help them with the disease disclosure and adaptation, use of drugs, and reduction of risky behaviors, as well as the harm to the community.