| dc.description.abstract | In a country with a high prevalence rate of HIV, the number of adolescents living with HIV and AIDS
is steadily increasing in Zimbabwe. The National AIDS Council (2011) reports that there are more
than one hundred and fifty thousand children living with HIV and AIDS who are below the age of
fifteen years. This emerging group of the population has been receiving limited attention in previous
years. The study sought to explore coping mechanisms adopted by adolescents living with HIV and
AIDS in Chinhoyi. The study recruited HIV positive adolescents who are receiving antiretroviral
treatment was conducted at Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital, located in Mashonaland West Province.
Data collection included semi-structured in-depth interviews, key informant interviews, and a
questionnaire (Adapted adolescent version of KIDCOPE). A sample of 38 adolescents living with
HIV and AIDS aged between ten and nineteen years of years were selected through simple random
sampling from a possible one hundred and eighty six who receive antiretroviral therapy at the
Provincial Hospital’s Opportunistic Clinic. The results of the study indicate that adolescents living
with HIV and AIDS still face a multitude of challenges in dealing with the demands that affect people
living with HIV and AIDS. Stigma and discrimination were reported to be the major issues of
concern. The majority of the adolescents have lost at least one parent. The majority have indicated
that their families sometimes lack financial resources to meet additional medical needs that are not
provided for free by public health institutions, and purchasing a nutritional food as well as paying
school fees. Other challenges commonly experienced include fear of being attacked by opportunistic
infections, anxiety due to possibility of shorter life expectancy, inability to handle disclosure issues in
relationships with the opposite sex, as well as issues relating to marriage and having healthy babies.
The study revealed that adolescents living with HIV and AIDS in Chinhoyi mainly use passive
methods of coping, whilst active coping mechanisms are also utilized. Additional unique, situation
specific coping mechanisms were also reported. It also came out from the study that there are various
support mechanisms available to adolescents living with HIV and AIDS in Chinhoyi provided from
state and non state actors. However, resources constraints, both human and final, have limited the
effectiveness of these support mechanisms in addressing complex challenges that confront adolescents
living with HIV and AIDS in Chinhoyi. It was interesting to note that these adolescents are
developing skills and attitudes which assist them to cope with HIV and AIDS related demands in their
social environments. The study concludes that although most adolescents are striving to successfully
cope, a lot still needs to support them because the community environment is not yet fully
appreciative of their needs. Improvement in the delivery of service and increased tolerance by the
community has the potential to enhance the quality of life for adolescents living with HIV and AIDS.
The study informs interventions that promote healthy coping and better quality of service for
adolescents that are struggling with complexities of living with HIV and AIDS. | en_US |
