Exploring the mental health experiences of young mothers affected by HIV in South Africa

Busakhwe, Chuma

Exploring the mental health experiences of young mothers affected by HIV in South Africa

Thesis / Dissertation

2024

Abstract

The mental health of young women living in adversity, including those at risk of HIV exposure and early pregnancy, remains understudied. This study contributed to this research gap by exploring the mental health experiences of young mothers affected by HIV in South Africa. Seventeen semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18-24-year-old young mothers in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, twelve of whom were living with HIV. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analysed using thematic approaches. The study found that psychological research's framing of mental health does not always align with young mothers' understanding and articulation of their day-to-day experiences of their wellbeing. Furthermore, young mothers experienced multiple stressors and challenges which affected their mental health, including school disruptions, coming to terms with their HIV status and unintended pregnancy, and experiences of violence. Adjusting to their new realities and transitioning into their roles as mothers was overwhelming as they were not prepared for such sudden changes in their lives. Additionally, young mothers living with HIV are more vulnerable to poor mental health experiences, particularly at the intersection of early motherhood and HIV syndemic. Young mothers living with HIV employed different techniques to negotiate and navigate living with HIV. The majority experienced profound levels of HIV stigma within their social environments. As a result, young mothers chose not to disclose their HIV status due to fear of being exposed to further discrimination and rejection. To design supportive interventions, research must understand young mothers' emotional challenges and mental health experiences over time including different life stages from pregnancy to motherhood, because their mental health burden is affected by exposure to multiple overlapping or simultaneous stressors. Key words: mental health, HIV, young women, early motherhood, syndemic, stigma and South Africa

Keywords

Psychology

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