Table 3:

Youth Identified Their Common Stressors and Worries and Ways of Coping

STRESS & WORRIES	COPING STRATEGIES
Worry about being isolated by the society due to HIV	Helpful	Talking to friends and/or family
Worry about disclosure of HIV status for fear of gossiping and stigma		Religion
Worry about being alone, never marrying, and not having children		Participating in sports/exercise
Worry about unintentional disclosure if seen taking antiretroviral therapy (boarding school and undisclosed family)		Watching a funny movie
Worry of getting sick and dying early, especially having witnessed the death of HIV-infected friends and family		Listening to music
Worry about not being taken seriously or being accepted in the community because of living with HIV	Unhelpful	Getting drunk or using drugs to “forget”
Worry about failing in school		Getting drunk or using drugs to “forget”
Worry about not having money for school fees		Getting angry and/or yelling
Worry about not getting a job		Getting angry and/or yelling