Individuals relayed learning about their HIV status to the way they got infected.
Learning about an individual’s HIV status
A lot of the individuals (17) self-reported searching for an HIV test as a result of a disease or signs thereof. For a couple, someone or a young child’s disease (or death in several situations) made them look for an HIV test. One participant tested during maternity. Several participants reported evaluating must be male that is( partner have been unfaithful and also this had resulted in suspicions. Nine individuals stated that that they had been contaminated through their previous male lovers.
Eight individuals stated that that they had been raped. Three of them desired an HIV test straight after the rape event. The sex chat rooms three connected their HIV status that is positive the rape event:
“I became young and there was little we knew. I happened to be 12 yrs old in 1994 and I also ended up being raped by my uncle. (we tested) I had to (test) because I was raped and. My moms and dads took me personally to medical center plus the physician stated he’d do most of the tests. (whenever I learned) I became thinking we became dying. Then again I happened to be a young child thus I did not know…I think I happened to be numb to everything…” Buli, 28 yrs old, Durban
“If only I happened to be not raped, I would personally never be HIV good… we experienced plenty of anger…” Mapule, 29 yrs old, Johannesburg
“How i acquired infected…I have actually three guys. Since I have have always been a lesbian and extremely butch, nearly all of my buddies had been men. Once we will be consuming, they might make use of me… in my situation it ended up being rape for the reason that it’s the way I got my children… ”. Glenda, 37 yrs old, Namibia|They would take advantage of me… For me it was rape because that’s how I got my children… ”. Glenda, 37 yrs old, Namibia when we would be drinking
Lesbians in Southern Africa especially have grown to be certain goals of rape, a kind of rape that is designed to `heterosexualise’ them (Mkhize et al. 2010). Because they were lesbians, it is alarming that even in such a small sample, so many women reported having been raped while we may not claim that the women in this study were targeted.
Knowledge about testing
Individuals claimed it was hard and usually unpleasant to look for an HIV test, as VCT counsellors are usually ill-informed or interested in same-sex intimate choice. As you participant reported, her counsellor shifted the main focus far from offering help about HIV up to a pre-occupation about her intimate orientation:
“All I am able to state is – it is difficult for the lesbian to try using HIV test. I am aware this individually, first when you’re for counselling this will depend that is providing you with that counselling… You go here plus they inform you of condoms and therefore you must utilize them…you inform them “ I don’t do men”. You obtain a person who is empty ( maybe not informed) therefore the subject for counselling changes. `How do it is done by you? (have intercourse with ladies)’ you simply get agitated when you’re said to be working with the news headlines that you will be HIV good while the discussion has changed as you are gay. ” Lesego, 29 yrs old, Pretoria
For another participant, the wellness provider ended up being therefore insensitive after studying her intimate orientation he tossed her HIV test results on the ground:
“I experienced this constant frustration which…would not stop. Then I decided to go to the doctor…Two months later on, We returned once more, and HIV tests had been run they told me I was HIV positive on me, that’s when. That medical practitioner wasn’t therefore good beside me because one of several things he asked me personally ended up being am we intimately active, and I also said `yes’. Then he asked if with a guy or a lady. We said `both’ after which he tossed my outcomes page on the ground and stated that when i really could sleep both with gents and ladies i possibly could see the report regarding the page that i will be HIV good. It was dropped by him on the floor. ” Mapule, 29 yrs old, Johannesburg
The anxieties related to HIV assessment for lesbians claim that more work should be achieved to sensitise health care professionals about individuals diverse intimate choices and orientations. This might get an extended option to make sure that consumers aren’t confronted with the possibility dual stigma of disclosure of the intimate orientation. When it is perhaps not a bad attitude, as you participant above explained, this is the wondering questions regarding same-sex intimate functions that the participant needed to amuse.