CHAPTER FOUR FINDINGS
4.6 Experience of VCT
than the reality of HIV/AIDS.
4.6.1 Reasons for VCT
Participants mentioned different reasons for undergoing an HIV test. Indeed,
participant‟s decision to undergo a HIV test was largely influenced by the conditions of the prison environment. Specifically, participants had stated that HIV positive
individuals received a special diet that consisted of peanuts and milk, hence they decided to test for HIV so that they would be able to receive the special diet. Participants had also witnessed HIV/AIDS related deaths within prison, which had reinforced their decisions to test for HIV.
P1: I didn't take the test because I was sick. I was like as I told you I was looking for this peanuts to eat. Why are those people eating the peanuts so I was to eat this peanuts.
P2: When I see the people they got holes in the back I say to myself hey I also got HIV and I am going to end up like that man. Then I take the blood again I take the test again they say that I am HIV that is when I am starting to get pressure hey I am going to die….
P3: Things that I saw inside things that were happening inside. I saw people dying inside by that time then I was fit and having no problem and there I wasn't coughing anything that you can think that I am HIV positive other they didn't know that I was HIV positive but the things that I saw inside it makes me realise that I have to go and do another test.
The influence of the prison environment is a central theme that was interwoven in the participant‟s decision to undergo VCT. Therefore, the prison environment needs to be re – evaluated in order to become an entry point for HIV diagnosis, treatment, care, and reintegration of offenders into the community.
4.6.2 The process of VCT
During the process of VCT, participants argued that the degree to which they had received adequate support and counseling from healthcare workers had affected the way that they experienced the HIV test. The participant‟s the provision of support and counseling by healthcare workers not only reduced the stress and trauma that the participant‟s experienced but also motivated the participant‟s in a positive manner.
Most of the participants agreed that their process of HIV testing was a negative
experience as healthcare workers did not effectively conduct the pre- and post-test counselling stages.
P1: When I went for the test the nurse that was there was not giving me enough counseling she was just told she just asked me can I take your blood I said ok. In McCords [the participant knew of his status before he went into prison at McCords Hospital]. She took the blood she didn't tell me for what she was taking the blood.
P2: Then the blood test came back and then I was HIV positive and then she told me that I must not join the other people who are HIV positive. But the nurse told me that some people they are alive with HIV and she told me you too you are also going to be alive.
P3: I told the doctor for Westville prison then the doctor sent me to the nurse to check then the nurse send me to the counselor, the counselor and then they check they counsel me and then they check me they called for those people that they were supposed to check me and then they check me and they found out that I am HIV positive but when they counsel me they didn't counsel me proper because the time they come and tell me they came with the results and after they gave me the results but they didn't counsel me after that yes they told me there is your results, you are HIV positive and after that I was shocked.
In the above narrative, participants have outlined how healthcare workers mediate the process of VCT. The positive or negative attitudes of the healthcare workers directly affected the experiences of the participants.
4.6.3 Reactions to the HIV diagnosis
All participants had met the HIV diagnosis with negativity. Participants became distressed which was due to the fear of immediate death. Participants also began to question the time that they had to left to live.
P1: I was like I couldn't believe it and I couldn't sleep that day and in the middle of the night I used to wake up and get those shocks and those feelings like I am going to die tomorrow. I couldn't sleep for a whole week thinking about those things that I am HIV positive how come, where did I get this thing from.
The association between an HIV diagnosis and death arises from the various ways in
which these participants and society in general have encountered HIV/AIDS. The fear of an HIV diagnosis leads to an automatic negative reaction because there is a lack of exposure on how the disease can be effectively managed.
4.6.4 Psychological adjustment to HIV/AIDS
Clearly, religion had allowed participants to make sense of their experience as well as contributing to participants‟ acceptance of their HIV diagnosis. Furthermore,
participant‟s interpretation of the Bible portrayed their belief in the idea that GOD had chosen them to carry the HI virus.
P1: I'm the luckiest one because I'll even quote from the bible, the bible says that there are those days whereby there will be those cure of those diseases that diseases as the bible says of which from GOD, I must have this diseases so I had to fulfill that statement that GOD say's upon his prophet so as I have that uncured disease so I take it as a blessing as like whenever you are quoting from the bible in this things so you can say that that is the one that has the uncured disease you can say it so of which GOD says so I may be the luckiest one so how can I blame myself how can I be ashamed of being HIV positive of which I may not be HIV positive but GOD made me the one of showed me the example of what he said that is how I see HIV like that.
P2: I was keep on searching myself, making this introspection about this things but as time goes on I just told myself just be a man and handle everything because my time is there to go to die I will die...
P3: I can die with anything I can die in a car, I can die silently…want to die then GOD doesn't want me to die so I take it like that that is HIV/AIDS.
The Bible was used as a means to which ex-offenders made sense of their HIV status as well as the whole concept of death. The availability of religious texts acted as a source in which ex – offenders accepted their HIV status.