Emotional responses, status disclosure, stigma, and hope among people living with HIV: a phenomenological study

HIV/AIDS cases continue to increase globally and nationally. In Indonesia, West Kalimantan has the highest HIV/AIDS incidence, especially in Pontianak City. This study employs a descriptive qualitative design with a phenomenological approach to explore the emotional experiences of individuals living with HIV (PLHIV) within this demographic. A purposive sampling technique was used to select twelve participants, aged 18 to 60, who were active Community Peer Group Support members at Yayasan Pontianak Plus. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and observations. Thematic analysis, utilizing Colaizzi’s method, identified four major themes: 1) emotional responses to HIV confirmation, which include two subthemes: acceptance and denial; 2) disclosure status, which comprises two subthemes: undisclosed and disclosed; 3) stigma and perception, which include sources of stigma and forms of HIV stigma; and 4) hope for the future, consisting of hopes for themselves and hopes for others. This study enhances understanding of the complex emotional landscape of PLHIV and underscores the crucial role of social support in fostering resilience and hope.