Exploring the lived experiences of women living with HIV in rural Zimbabwe: A qualitative study

The study of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related stigma and discrimination has been burgeoning with important implications for public health and society, as it negatively impacts people living with HIV. However, data on the experiences of rural women living with HIV/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in Zimbabwe are lacking. Women represent 50% of the global pandemic, while deaths from AIDS-related illnesses have exceeded 35 million. This study aimed to explore the experiences of rural women living with HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe. Forty rural women living with HIV were selected from 6 villages (one village per district) of Matabeleland South Province in Zimbabwe. A qualitative descriptive research design using in-depth individual interviews from 22 purposefully selected rural women living with HIV and 3 focus groups, was used to collect the study data. The transcripts of the interviews were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Three interconnected themes were identified: social prejudice, social discrimination, and psychosocial dysfunction. A key finding in the themes was that women living with HIV in rural Zimbabwe were psychosocially dysfunctional because of social prejudice and discrimination perpetrated against them by significant others in their communities. The findings provide a valuable understanding of women's experiences of living with HIV and AIDS in Africa's low-income countries. These results can be used by researchers, clinicians, mental health providers, and policymakers to address the unique needs of rural women living with HIV/AIDS.