Psycho social challenges associated with HIV: with views from female university students. Makerere University, Kampala district

Abstract

The study aimed at establishing the psychosocial challenges associated with views from female university students. The study adopted a qualitative study design which was thematic in nature. Purposive sampling technique was used to draw a sample of eight (8) participants from the population. Data was collected from the participants using open ended questions. Data was thematically analyzed by searching across a data set to identify, analyze, and report repeated patterns. The results indicated that all respondents were female students (100%), and majority of respondents were of age group 18-25 years (75.0%). Qualitative research findings indicate that the common psychosocial challenges associated with HIV include; depression, stress, stigma, isolation, fear and discrimination are the most common psycho-social challenges associated with HIV. This implies that the HIV positive students need to get continuous psycho-social support. The present study provides a basis and implications for further investigation on views of female university students on the psychosocial challenges associated with HIV in different universities in Kampala. It was recommended that the management of Makerere University need to design ways of sensitizing the students about the different psycho-social challenges that affect HIV positive students and how they can be supported. There should be counselling services provided regularly to HIV positive people in Makerere.