ASHA-Life Intervention Perspectives Voiced by Rural Indian Women Living With AIDS

In this focus group study, we explored the experiences of 16 rural women living with AIDS (WLA) who participated in the Asha-Life (AL) intervention to gain an understanding of the environmental, psychosocial, and cultural impact of the AL on their lives. Four themes emerged among AL participants: (a) the importance of tangible support, (b) need for social support, (c) ongoing challenges to accessing antiretroviral therapy (ART), and (d) perspectives on future programs. Our research findings support the development of future programs targeting mother–child dyads which emphasize nutritional knowledge, while reducing barriers to receiving ART, and physical, emotional, and financial support.

[1]  Padma Ramakrishna,et al.  Perceptions of Women Living with AIDS in Rural India Related to the Engagement of HIV-Trained Accredited Social Health Activists for Care and Support , 2010, Journal of HIV/AIDS & social services.

[2]  M. Ekstrand,et al.  Blame, Symbolic Stigma and HIV Misconceptions are Associated with Support for Coercive Measures in Urban India , 2011, AIDS and Behavior.

[3]  M. Visser,et al.  Development of structured support groups for HIV-positive women in South Africa , 2005, SAHARA J : journal of Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS Research Alliance.

[4]  P. Madhivanan,et al.  Marriage, monogamy and HIV: a profile of HIV-infected women in south India , 2000, International journal of STD & AIDS.

[5]  Sanjeev Sinha,et al.  Challenges Experienced by Rural Women in India Living With AIDS and Implications for the Delivery of HIV/AIDS Care , 2011, Health care for women international.

[6]  C. Golin,et al.  Perceptions regarding barriers and facilitators to combination antiretroviral therapy adherence among people living with HIV/AIDS in Gujarat, India: A qualitative study , 2012, Indian journal of sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS.

[7]  S. Sinha,et al.  Correlates of Adherence Among Rural Indian Women Living With HIV/AIDS , 2012, Journal of HIV/AIDS & social services.

[8]  M. Ekstrand,et al.  Suboptimal adherence associated with virological failure and resistance mutations to first-line highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in Bangalore, India. , 2011, International health.

[9]  S. Pallikadavath,et al.  hiv/aids in rural india: context and health care needs , 2004, Journal of Biosocial Science.

[10]  M. Ekstrand,et al.  Impact of Asha Intervention on Stigma Among Rural Indian Women With AIDS , 2013, Western journal of nursing research.

[11]  T. Nelson Violence against women. , 1996, World watch.

[12]  Hakan Seckinelgin,et al.  The Institutionalization of Global AIDS and the Creation of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) , 2017 .

[13]  S. Puri,et al.  Nutritional Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices among HIV-positive Individuals in India , 2013, Journal of health, population, and nutrition.

[14]  C. Carpenter,et al.  Impact of Protein Supplementation and Care and Support on Body Composition and CD4 Count Among HIV-Infected Women Living in Rural India: Results from a Randomized Pilot Clinical Trial , 2013, AIDS and Behavior.

[15]  S. Swaminathan,et al.  Impact of HIV/AIDS on Mothers in Southern India: A Qualitative Study , 2009, AIDS and Behavior.

[16]  C. Koverola,et al.  The Voices of Battered Women in India , 2005, Violence against women.

[17]  M. Ekstrand,et al.  Prevalence and drivers of HIV stigma among health providers in urban India: implications for interventions , 2013, Journal of the International AIDS Society.

[18]  S. Solomon,et al.  Costs and financial burden of care and support services to PLHA and households in South India , 2006, AIDS care.

[19]  M. Ekstrand,et al.  Correlates of Stigma among Rural Indian Women Living with HIV/AIDS , 2011, AIDS and Behavior.

[20]  Pamela Jordan Basics of qualitative research: Grounded theory procedures and techniques , 1994 .

[21]  Kartik Yadav,et al.  Impact of a Rural Village Women (Asha) Intervention on Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy in Southern India , 2012, Nursing research.

[22]  Adeline Nyamathi,et al.  Impact of an Asha intervention on depressive symptoms among rural women living with AIDS in India: comparison of the Asha-Life and Usual Care program. , 2012, AIDS education and prevention : official publication of the International Society for AIDS Education.

[23]  Wayne T. Steward,et al.  Developing useful highly active antiretroviral therapy adherence measures for India: the Prerana study. , 2010, Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes.

[24]  E. Joseph,et al.  Psychosocial Problems and Coping Patterns of HIV Seropositive Wives of Men with HIV/AIDS , 2005, Social work in health care.

[25]  S. Swaminathan,et al.  Correlates of relationship, psychological, and sexual behavioral factors for HIV risk among Indian women. , 2008, Cultural diversity & ethnic minority psychology.