Abstract

The Lived Experience of Youths with HIV/AIDS and the Challenges in the Context of Jimma Town; A Qualitative Phenomenological Study

Author(s): Wasihun Adraro1*, Getachew Abeshu2, Fira Abamecha3

This paper is aimed at reporting on the challenges, perception and lived experience of youths living with HIV/AIDS in Jimma town. Since individual perceive and experiences are interrelated and interconnected factors and co-occurring with daily life. To identify the problem using phenomenological in-depth interview technique on lived experiences among youths living with HIV/AIDS on different aspects of life beginning from the first time test result to the current psychological, emotional, behavioral, social support, medication adherence and substance use. The study population were youths with HIV/AIDS and using antiretroviral therapy medication in a selected health care institution. Some youths may avoid social contacts and do not seek their much needed social support since they believe that they are not worth of respect and care from anyone. As a result, youths living with HIV/AIDS may live in despair and a constant fear of rejection, and yet lack social support that they need. The trend of substance abuse is very common in youths living with HIV/AIDS because of the psychosocial wellbeing, biological, emotional, spiritual, cultural, social, mental and material aspects of experience.