Older people living with HIV in Uganda: understanding their experience and needs

Abstract

Older adults ageing with HIV in Africa have been largely neglected, despite the distinctive healthcare needs of this population. This article examines the medical care experiences of older Ugandans living with HIV. Data were collected from 40 HIV-positive adults, aged 50 years or older, attending two clinics in Uganda. Individual in-depth interviews were conducted with 16 adults and four focus groups were conducted with a total of 24 adults. Observations of clinic interactions were also recorded. Mean age of the participants was 65 years (range 50 to 80 years), and 50% were females. Interview transcripts were analysed using thematic content analysis. Although most issues raised were not qualitatively different for older individuals versus younger ones, from the analysis, nine major themes emerged, revealing healthcare needs distinctive to older people living with HIV: 1) stigma (43%); 2) difficulty disclosing (8%); 3) delayed diagnosis and care-seeking (55%); 4) access to care (80...