Table 3.
Text conversations on stigma, disclosure, and treatment adherence.
| Main Theme | Sub-themes and summary of discussion points | Sample text |
|---|---|---|
| Stigma and Disclosure | Worries about HIV | “Ok, can anyone give others some advice for how to manage HIV?”. (MN, group facilitator)“They must not be worry about HIV cause they are others who has [have] it like us”… (SM, group mentor) |
| Labelled as slow minded due to treatment | “But in life why other people say that the people who take ARV medication are slow in their minds, Why?”. (TK, group participant) | |
| Regarded as abnormal | “Most people with HIV doesn't [don't] look [normal], they have skin changes and lips changes”… (anonymous1, group participant) | |
| Group provides reassurance | “Because they told themselves that. but u know it's not true. They might say that but that is not true. We have many brilliant and smart people who are taking the medication all over the world”… (KE, group participant) | |
| Participants found comfort in virtual groups to seek information around partner disclosure | ||
| When to disclose to a partner? | “If u have a partner wen [when] is da [the] right to tell him or her that u r HIV?”… (Pronto, group participant) | |
| Seeks clarification | “I don't understand plz [please] tell me”… (Angel, group participant) | |
| Repeats | “If u love someone when is it the right to tell them?”… (Pronto, group participant) | |
| Participant advice | “I will say baby I have HIV plz [please] don't cry”… (Angel, group participant) | |
| Mentor's advice | “Me I will advise you that do what you think is right”… (SM, group Mentor) | |
| Another participant attempt at a response | “I would say u [you] might not like me an more but I'm HIV [positive]”… (Pronto, group participant) | |
| “If someone love you she stay with u”… (Angel, group participant) | ||
| Let's talk about taking ARVs | ||
| Treatment adherence | “I feel like I'm a fool in everything. Like I think I'm a failure maybe for taking medication and I'm a fool. Now I need guidance”… (TK, group participant) | |
| Advice on medication use | “But you know that it is not true.you are not a fool but you are a strong person who have been doing it right all this time. Taking your medication does not make you a fool in any way. Do you understand the importance of taking the medication?”. (AM, group facilitator) | |
| Medication makes one stronger | “Ya! The medication that you take makes you stronger than you thought. It kills the weakness in you”… (KE, group participant) | |
| Adherence is needed | “I agree with you Krazy E.because not taking your medication is the bad thing to do in this case”… (AM, group facilitator) | |
| Checking in on others members | “Where is the rest of the group members? Good question hey. we need different views guys!”… (AM, group facilitator) | |