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© 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

Young men aged 20–29 present the highest rates of HIV in Chile, yet little is known about their experiences after diagnosis. This study sheds light on the meaning of living with HIV for young gay Chilean males. Qualitative analysis of 11 in-depth interviews, employing Heidegger’s hermeneutical approach, resulted in a depiction of feelings of loneliness and sadness, encounters with discrimination, and a lack of social support. Participants also offer recommendations on utilizing peer support as an essential component for programs targeting young gay men living with HIV in the capital of Chile. Additionally, they suggest that health care providers play a crucial role in supporting the process of accepting the condition. Conclusions: It is imperative to enhance psychological support by integrating it into the HIV program for all clients and families facing crisis situations. The establishment of support groups within hospitals that are part of the national program providers is recommended. Education on comprehensive sexuality should be provided in educational institutions, alongside visible campaigns across all media platforms to dismantle the stigma linked to the disease. Lastly, improvements in care duration and support from health services can be achieved through the provision of comprehensive care founded on unconditional acceptance.

Details

Title
Learning to Live with HIV: The Experience of a Group of Young Chilean Men
Author
Macarena Belén Calderón Silva 1 ; Lilian Marcela Ferrer Lagunas 2 ; Cianelli, Rosina 3 

 Master in Public Health Program, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 833150, Chile 
 Master in Public Health Program, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 833150, Chile; School of Nursing, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 833150, Chile; School of Nursing and Health Studies, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33124, USA; [email protected] 
 School of Nursing and Health Studies, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33124, USA; [email protected] 
First page
6700
Publication year
2023
Publication date
2023
Publisher
MDPI AG
ISSN
1661-7827
e-ISSN
1660-4601
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2862246063
Copyright
© 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.