Purpose: To explore the lived experiences and self-care practices among Thai, HIV-positive, postpartum women
Theoretical Framework: Hermeneutic phenomenology guided the study.
Subjects and Method: In-depth interviews with open-ended questions were conducted with five postpartum women in Thailand. The sample size was justified through data saturation. The interviews took place at the participants’ homes from December, 2003 through April, 2004. All interviews were taped recorded and field notes were taken. Data were analyzed using Giorgi’s method.
Results: All of the women were Buddhist and married. Their ages ranged from 17 to 29 years old. All had received the virus from their husbands. They lived with fears, uncertainty, and sufferings after the recognition of their infection. The women guarded their social status through their concealment of the infection. Their Buddhist beliefs, which included Karma (retribution) and The Truth of Life (no man is immortal), helped them to deal with their condition. The relationships between husband and wife were strained after the recognition of the infection. Over time, however, the husbands became more supportive, tangibly and emotionally. The participants’ self-care practices gradually improved after the recognition of the virus. They began to eat nutritious food, rest, and exercise according to nurses’ and doctors’ instructions. They tried to stay as healthy as they could for their babies, who were their hope and will power. The couples used condoms. The decision to use condoms was made by the husbands. Finally, the participants were receptive to new information regarding HIV, but were not motivated to seek it out for themselves.
Conclusions: Understanding an HIV-positive postpartum woman’s lived experience and self-care practices is important. Nursing care, self-care instructions, and emotional support should be tailored to each individual woman’s beliefs, life context, and self-care practices.
Session #1200 - Self Care
The 29th Annual MNRS Research Conference (April 1-4, 2005)