Positively positive - A qualitative study of HIV positive women in South Africa

Abstract: The purpose of the essay was to examine the experience to live as HIV positive and how HIV affects life. The main focus has been the journey from not being HIV positive to the deliberations taking the HIV test, receiving the positive test result and reactions and actions being HIV positive. To examine these questions a symbolic interactive perspective, role exit, turning points and the reaction on crises have been used. Collection of information was carried out through six interviews with South African HIV positive women. During the interviews a semi structured interview guide was used. The result have been analysed and tied to the perspectives, theories and concepts presented. The conclusions that were made are that HIV has affected the women’s lives and a change of behaviour has occurred. They handled the fact of being HIV positive in a skilful way through allocating support from their social networks and tried to live positively.