Women living with HIV/AIDS (WLHA): a review of literature. Battling stigma, discrimination and denial and the role of support groups as a coping strategy

      Аннотация: Women living with HIV/AIDS, in particular, have been positioned as a latent source of infection, and have captivated culpability and blame leading to a highly stigmatised and discriminated life. Despite the situation, women and their particular concerns have largely been ignored in HIV/AIDS research literature. This review examine's and analyses the feelings, experiences and perceptions of Women living with HIV/AIDS (WLHA) and also accesses the role of support group as a coping strategy on the basis of 7 primary researches conducted in or on different parts of the world. Support groups should be offered as a fundamental part of HIV/AIDS services and should be advocated as an effective and useful intervention. Further research is needed to examine the effect of support groups for women living with HIV/AIDS. A community based randomised controlled trial with support group as an intervention and a control group could provide further evidence of the value of support groups.

Ключевые слова: coping strategy, Discrimination, HIV/AIDS, Stigma, Support Group, Women