What Works for Women and Girls

6. Support groups for people living with HIV may reduce stigma. [See also Chapter 7. Treatment]Following violence in Kenya, VCT services were established, with counseling and accessto antiretroviral therapy for those who tested HIV-positive. Support groups for 100women and 45 men living with HIV had reduced stigma. Along with ART, nutrition iskey to supplement relief efforts (Wambete and Ptoch, 2008). (Gray V) (violence, counseling,testing, support groups, antiretrovirals, nutrition, Kenya)7. Support to voluntarily disclose positive serostatus, and continued support, increasesHIV-positive women’s ability to cope and access treatment regimens and reduces perceivedstigma in the community.A study carried out from 1999 to 2001 in Thailand, with 329 HIV-positive women foundthat HIV-positive women who reported that they could disclose their HIV serostatusgained increased acceptance and support from family and community, accessed supportgroups that increased their ability to cope with the disease, and increased their access totreatment regimens. Of the 329 women, 57% participated in one or more HIV-positivesupport groups. One woman stated: “At that time, when I knew I was HIV-positive, Ithought, how could I live! Then, I had a chance to learn about a support group. I joinedthis group. I feel good cause I can meet others who’re the same as me...” (p. 37). Anotherstated: “I can get more knowledge from others who have had the same experiences. Ifeel that there are many people living with HIV, not only me. I feel warm when I joinin the group” (p. 37–38) One woman stated: “In the village, everybody knew my HIVstatus. At first, they did not accept me, but now they have a good relationship withme. I can eat and talk with them. I think that I can live well in the village” (p. 37). Thewomen were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. In-depth interviews wereconducted among 60 HIV-positive women. Four participatory workshops were held ondata analysis and report writing. A week long counseling training session was held forthe women conducting interviews. Women interviewed were selected non-randomlyfrom support groups, clinics, ANC clinics, NGOs, and communities using dimensionalsampling method. The dimensions used were ages 15–25, 26–35, or 36–49, and numberof years from diagnosis. Women who met the criteria for both dimensions were selectedbased on convenient or snowball sampling techniques. Six focus group discussionswere held with six to eight men (Yoddumnern-Attig et al., 2004). (Gray IV) (stigma,discrimination, disclosure, Thailand)A qualitative study of interviews with 75 HIV-positive people (43 females, 32 males)from 20 countries, including Australia, Botswana, India, Kenya, South Africa, Thailand,Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, conducted between 1997 and 1999, found that immediatelyfollowing diagnosis, most respondents felt shame and a sense of worthlessness.Most carefully guarded the secret of their serostatus for fear of negative repercussions.The average time between diagnosis and public disclosure was 2.6 years, as most peopleneeded to time to talk through their fears with peers or a counselor. Motivation forWHAT WORKS FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS335