Original Research

Lived experiences of human immunodeficiency virus and hypertension in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

Lwandile Tokwe, Joanne R. Naidoo
African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine | Vol 12, No 1 | a2472 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/phcfm.v12i1.2472 | © 2020 Lwandile Tokwe, Joanne R. Naidoo | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 22 April 2020 | Published: 27 October 2020

About the author(s)

Lwandile Tokwe, Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Joanne R. Naidoo, Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Abstract

Background: Globally, the healthcare system is burdened with the rise in communicable diseases compounded by the comorbidity of non-communicable diseases. South Africa in particular experiences a quadruple burden of diseases, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hypertension are amongst the burden of diseases reported.

Aim: This article aims to explore and describe the lived experiences of people living with HIV (PLWH) and hypertension in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Setting: The study was conducted in the Sakhisizwe sub-district within the Chris Hani health district of the Eastern Cape.

Methods: A qualitative study design using Husserl’s descriptive phenomenology underpinned this study. Purposive sampling method was used to select participants. Information was gathered using semi-structured interviews from nine participants who met the inclusion criteria. The interviews were recorded on an audiotape and conducted in isiXhosa, and these were verified through back and forward translation to English. The transcribed interviews were coded manually, and underpinned by Giorgi’s phenomenological data analysis steps.

Results: This study yielded four themes that described the journey towards a new normal experienced by participants. These themes were (1) overcoming illness-related stigma, (2) sources of support, (3) self-love: taking ownership of the diseases and (4) creating transforming behaviours and self-care strategies.

Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the central theme that emerged from the lived experiences of participants with HIV and hypertension was a process of finding a new normal for their lives. This process had several enabling and inhibiting conditions that enabled participants to develop self-acceptance and find strategies to transform behaviours to better live with two chronic illnesses.


Keywords

adults; HIV; hypertension; lived experiences; PHC

Metrics

Total abstract views: 3059
Total article views: 3348

 

Crossref Citations

1. Social needs of individuals with multimorbidity: A meta-synthesis
Ahtisham Younas, Muhammad Ayaz, Marco Di Nitto, Esther Nyangate Monari, Alberto Dal Molin, Angela Durante
Health Sciences Review  vol: 10  first page: 100154  year: 2024  
doi: 10.1016/j.hsr.2024.100154