Repercussions of spirituality in the lives of women living with HIV

Abstract

Introduction: Spirituality in patients living with HIV helps to cope with the negative thoughts brought about by the illness. The purpose of the study was to understand the impact of spirituality on the lives of women living with HIV. Materials and Methods: This is a qualitative research on thematic life histories. The sample composed of seven women diagnosed with HIV/Aids for over a year. For the data collection, a semi-structured interview was used, with questions about the social context, sociodemographic and clinical situation, religion and spirituality. The content analysis technique was used for data analysis. The results were organized into two categories: seeking strength in spirituality and hope for healing. Results: In times of distress imposed by HIV/Aids, all the interviewees sought spirituality through prayer and even by materializing the presence of God as strategies to confront the disease. The yearning for healing by divine revelations is expressed in the interviewees' speeches. Discussion: According to the interviewees' life stories, the divine figure strengthened them in the face of challenges posed by HIV/Aids. Conclusions: Through this research, it was possible to verify that spirituality is present in the lives of women who live with HIV, and that it softens the adversities brought on by the disease.