HOW HIV POSITIVE GAY MEN PERCEIVE SEROPOSITIVITY AND WHAT SIGNIFICANCE THEY GIVE THIS DIAGNOSIS AS EVIDENCED BY SEXUAL BEHAVIOR CHANGES AND CARE NEEDS (IMMUNE DEFICIENCY).
Contributors: Indiana University School of Nursing.
Published: 1993
Number of pages: 167
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Psychology, Physiological.; Psychology, Social.
Description: The purpose of this study was to describe the relationships among HIV positive, symptom-free gay men's perceptions of being seropositive, their self-reported changes in sexual behavior, and their self-identified care needs. Ten HIV positive gay men served as participants in this study. They ranged in age from 25 to 41 years, with a mean age of 34 years. The subjects' initial diagnosis of HIV positivity occurred 6 months to 7 years prior to the first research interview. Data were collected during two audiotape-recorded, open-ended, subject-oriented, 1-hour interviews with each subject.

Data were analyzed by identifying components of the seropositive experience to which the subjects referred and their associated meanings. The components were categorized and then analyzed in relation to the research questions.

Each of the 10 subjects in this study reported that the knowledge of his HIV positivity evoked the following self-reported changes in his life: (1) The change in perception of self as a result of being seropositive involved confronting his homosexuality, his own finiteness, and his mortality. Dealing with his own mortality led a subject to review his lifestyle choices and relationships with partners, family, and friends.

Lifestyle changes were reported by 9 of the 10 subjects. These men reported improving their diets, including exercise in their lifestyles, eliminating drug use, and greatly decreasing alcohol use. (2) All 10 of the subjects reported being very motivated to practice protected sex or celibacy. This self-reported behavior differed from the reported trend among gay men of returning to unsafe, unprotected sexual practices. (3) The subjects' self-identified care needs included the need to be emotionally supported and accepted. Their physical care needs mainly involved prescribed medications and intervention for mild periodic illnesses.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 55-09, Section: B, page: 3817.

Thesis (D.N.S.)--INDIANA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF NURSING, 1993.

School code: 0815.