1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«The aim of this article is to document and test hypotheses put forward in the literature to explain the connections between unique characteristics of the feminine experience, QoL [quality of life], and determinants of the latter in WLHIV [women living with HIV].» (p. 213)

Questions/Hypothèses :
«Of the physical functioning– related variables associated with the medical trajectory of life with HIV, undergoing ART [antiretroviral therapies ], and less time since HIV diagnosis […] would appear to be directly linked to WLHIV perception of a better state of physical health. It would also seem that better social support is tied to better physical health […].» (p. 215)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
«The analyzed data were taken from two studies on the QoL of PLHIV [people living with HIV] in Québec, Canada: the Étude longitudinale montréalaise de l’état de santé, de la QdV et des comportements de prévention chez les PVVIH: dimensions psychosociales et environnementales […] and the Étude provinciale portant sur l’interrelation entre des comportements de santé et des dimensions de l’environnement social sur l’état de santé auto-rapporté et la QdV des PVVIH en régions […], conducted in eight cities in the province of Québec (Canada). […] The sample is composed of 224 WLHIV, 159 (71.0%) from the Montréal MAYA project and 65 (29.0%) from the Québec provincial study.» (p. 216)

Instruments :
Questionnaires

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse statistique

3. Résumé

«This article explored the complex relationships between different variables unique to women’s experiences of HIV. Country of origin appears to be central in this experience, highlighting the vulnerability of women born outside of Canada. Results shed light on the significant burden of HIV disclosure and its impact on mental health, while demonstrating the decisive role of social support for mental and physical health, two important components of QoL.» (p. 227) «In the current study, being an immigrant and being a mother are both associated with a lower proportion of people aware of the respondent’s serostatus, which in turn is directly associated with better mental health. Immigrant women […] do not dare reveal their serostatus fearing to be perceived as promiscuous […] and of being victims of rumors in their communities after disclosure. Contrary to women born in Canada, they may feel that by revealing their serostatus, they risk losing the functional assistance provided by their community. For their part, mothers experience the same preoccupations while also wishing to protect their children from HIV-related discrimination […]. This may explain why in the current study the impact of the country of origin on disclosure seems even more important when immigrant women are also mothers.» (p. 223)