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Lived experiences of HIV discordant couples at St. Gabriel Mission Hospital
(Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, 2008-12-14) Banda, Rahabe
This study explored the experiences of HIV discordant couples at St Gabriel mission hospital. HIV discordance is increasing in Africa as well as in Malawi. The number of HIV discordant couples is surpassing the number of concordant couples. The main objective of the study was to explore the experiences of these couples during in their marriages. The study was qualitative in nature. It involved 10 HIV discordant coupled who were attending monthly counseling sessions as the site of study. They were conveniently interviewed using an interview guide. Data was manually analyzed. Consent form was obtained before collecting data and the findings were confidential only accessible to the researcher. Permission was also sought from the hospital and KCN research committee before it was done. The research findings have revealed that people have little knowledge concerning HIV discordance and they have problems to believe it. The couples also lack comprehensive counseling when they go for VCT for the first time because the counselors also lack knowledge of HIV discordance. Their management and how they cope with discordance are difficult to understand. The couples also lack support from relatives and the community at large. However, they are able to sustain their marriages.