Challenges faced by people living with HIV/AIDS during COVID-19 pandemic in India: Implication for social work practice

Binu Sahayam; Maya Rathnasabapathy

doi:10.1921/jpts.v19i1-2.1705

Authors

Binu Sahayam Assistant Professor (Social Work), Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4233-6296
Maya Rathnasabapathy Associate Professor, Psychology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2355-0876

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1921/jpts.v19i1-2.1705

Keywords:

HIV/AIDS, COVID-19 pandemic, depression, social work intervention

Abstract

HIV/AIDS is considered as one of the most demanding public health problems faced by the country. It is a public threat and needs collective efforts in addressing the issue. In this line, a study was conducted among 30 people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in Chennai, Tamilnadu, India to study the challenges faced by women living with HIV/AIDS during the lockdown COVID 19 Pandemic in India. The data was collected with the support of the International Alliance for the Prevention of AIDS (IAPA) India, Chennai. In this study, descriptive research design and Simple random (lottery method) sampling technique was adopted. The researcher designed a questionnaire comprising both structured and semi structured questions along with “Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) – 21 item” standardized scale to obtain the data. The study shows that 76.7 percent of the respondents felt depressed because they do not have income to support their family needs and 53.3% shared that they are living in fear of HIV/AIDS and now during lockdown fear of survival is another painful one. Social work revolves around service, but is inherently interdisciplinary in nature. In this study Seven-Stage Crisis Intervention Model by Albert R. Roberts and Allen J. Ottens, was used for intervention. It was found after intervention that the p value of Depression, Anxiety and Stress is 0.00, which is less than the significance level of 0.05, hence the null hypothesis is rejected. Thus the results after the intervention showed that there was a visible decrease in their depression, stress and anxiety level.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, COVID 19 Pandemic, Depression, Social Work Interventions

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