African American women as a marginalized group in American society, daily face obstacles related to race, class, and gender that are health threatening. When the stigma of HIV/AIDS is added, the issues and problems surrounding illness management, childrearing and management of other aspects of daily living are compounded. Purpose and Theoretical Framework: The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences, values, traditions, and beliefs of African American women who are HIV positive, and who mother a child who is also HIV positive. This study also explored how cultural values influence self-care and mothering in this group. Africana Womanism and Critical Social Theory were used to guide the study. Subjects: 10 African American mothers, who were HIV positive and who had an HIV positive child participated in this study. They all lived in the rural Southeastern United States. Method: Critical ethnography was the method used for this study. Formal and informal interviews and participant observation were used to collect data. Data were analyzed using ethnographic analysis techniques including constant comparative analysis and inductive analysis. Results and conclusions: Domains derived from the research data were: Disabling Relationships, Strong Mothering, and Re-defining Self-Care. The overarching cultural theme was identified as Creating a Life of Meaning. African American women living with HIV/AIDS in the rural South used culturally specific self-care and mothering strategies indicative of core cultural values. This study dispels negative images of African American women and acknowledges cultural strengths, creating an impact on the ways in which nursing care is delivered and self-care promoted with African American mothers who are living with HIV/AIDS.
Session #1200 - Self Care
The 29th Annual MNRS Research Conference (April 1-4, 2005)