WEPDD0120
Hopefulness among People living
with HIV fosters positive affects and
cognitions that support adaptive
coping in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
H. Siril & S. Kaaya: Muhimbili University of Health and
Allied Sciences, Department of Psychiatry and Mental
Health, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania,
M.C.S. Fawzi: Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
J. Kilewo: Muhimbili University of Health and Allied
Sciences, Department of Epidemiology
J. Todd: National Research institute, Mwanza
W. Monique N. & Ware: Harvard Medical School,
Department of Global Health and Population, USA
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WEPDD0120
Background
• Hopefulness is reported to increase
coping with chronic illnesses but
understudied and underutilized in HIV
care
• Goal: to understand the meaning of hope
as perceived by PLH and potential role of
hope in promoting good health, treatment
outcomes and quality of life from the
perspective of PLH
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Methods
WEPDD0120
• Multi-site 10 FGD, 8 IDI with 82 PLH
• In-depth interviews done with PLH who
had depressive symptoms
• Used an interview guide exploring
meaning, dimensions, and outcomes of
hopefulness among PLH
• Study location: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
in April to June 2012
• Eligibility: HIV infected, ≥18 years, on ART
• Thematic analysis of narrative data was
performed using grounded theory
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Results
• Three dimensions of hope:
cognitive change, positive
emotions, positive actions to
normalize life after HIV
diagnosis.
Step1:Knowing HIV diagnosis not
a death sentence & ART were the
first steps!
“I wasn’t living anymore since I
knew of my HIV even though I
was walking around. Life was
meaningless to me, I wasn’t able
to sleep or do my routine work.
But afterwards I was told that
there is medicine (ART) that can
treat me. I became happy again
because I won’t die as I thought.
that is how I got hope” (FGD
participant woman ≥35 yr
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WEPDD0120
Step 2 &3: Positive emotions,
active engagement in health
seeking behaviors
“I was not sure of continuing with
my life anymore. Mmmh I mean
when this problem of (HIV) came
my way, I lost all my inner strength,
but a nurse assured us that, the
treatment is available. Suddenly I
knew this is not the end of my life! I
can be treated… huh! And so it
gave me much joy and happiness
that caused my heart [to] gain
strength again.. So I came to this
hospital and that is where I was
started [on] treatment (ART).” (FGD
participant / man between the ages
of 18-34 years).
Conclusion
WEPDD0120
• Although our study involved a sub group of PLH who are on ART in
urban areas and lacks PLH not taking ART or living in rural areas,
the findings point to a possibility of positive benefits of promoting
aspects of care which increase hope, among PLH attending ART
care programs and complement ART on improving the quality of
lives for PLH.
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