15th International AIDS Conference Bangkok, Thailand — July 11-July 16, 2004

Int Conf AIDS. 2004 Jul 11-16;15:Abstract No. LbOrD25

D Sidhva
The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

BACKGROUND: This research examines the intangible, complex concept of change and the HIV/AIDS epidemic from the perspective of 27 women from Bombay (India) and Edinburgh (Scotland) who lived with HIV/AIDS and its sweeping consequences. It focuses on how they perceived turning points, transitions, and transformations in their lives.

METHODS: In-depth interviews elicited women’s recollections of their lives before infection, at diagnosis and its aftermath. Interviews were conducted in their native language, transcribed and translated. Transcripts were examined for themes that recurred. The themes were grouped logically, to form a set of assertions for the three chronological stages: pre-diagnosis/diagnosis/ post-diagnosis stages.

RESULTS: The concepts of turning points, transitions and transformations were drawn together to develop a model of change. These concepts were found to be interdependent, overlapping and fairly fluid and seemed to follow a pattern where the turning point was the trigger event/s that jolted the system of the women; transition was the period of movement, or journey they made, producing a new sense of awareness that led to transformation. A circle is used to depict the process of change in order to convey the idea that the process is dynamic and iterative, not linear. Concerns and issues from one phase of a person’s life course can be revisited in later phases, and a process of transformation can lead to new turning points and further transitions and transformations.

CONCLUSION: The model develops fresh insights into the cyclical aspects of change that occur in the lives of women who become HIV positive. It provides a framework to develop a deeper understanding of the phenomenon of change created by a devastating illness such as HIV/AIDS in the lives of women. It emphasises critical events that contribute to this change, and highlights how great vulnerability and adversity are managed with limited resources.

040711
LbOrD25

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