THE IMPACT OF COUNSELING ON HIV-INFECTED WOMEN IN ZIMBABWE

The objective of this study was to examine the impact of counselling p rovided for HIV-infected women in Zimbabwe. Qualitative research was u sed for data collection. In total, 44 women were heard; most were memb ers of an HIV support group. Doctors and nurses play an important role in the first counselling session, because tests to diagnose HIV-infec tion are done in the hospital. Interviewed women mention slow disclosu re of status as the most comforting way to hear the news. The HIV-infe cted women experience strong emotions directly after diagnosis. Counse lling at this moment is of major importance to reduce fear and can pre vent suicide. Women should be prevented from discovering their status on their own. Counselling given once is found not to be effective. Fir st, if only one counselling session is given, the women may not hear o r remember all that is said. Second, in case of depression, access to counselling is important and it appears that periods of depression ret urn frequently. Support groups play an important role in providing thi s continuous counselling. Another advantage of the counselling provide d by HIV-positive women of a support group is that the counsellors fun ction as examples.