A qualitative study of resilience among transgender women living with HIV in response to stigma in healthcare

ABSTRACT

Stigma in healthcare is a pervasive adversity experienced by transgender (trans) women living with HIV (WLWH). Resilience is described as individual and collective processes of navigating and overcoming adversity. This qualitative study sought to explore resilience exhibited by trans WLWH in response to stigma in healthcare. Semi-structured, individual interviews were conducted in 2017–2018 with a purposive sample of trans WLWH (n = 11) participating in a community-based cohort study. Framework analysis was used to identify key themes, patterns within themes between participants, and patterns across themes among participants. Three overarching themes were identified. (1) Resilient responses to stigma in healthcare. Participants exhibited resilient personality traits and processes of resistance and transformation in response to stigma. (2) Motivations, benefits, and consequences of responding. Participants experienced self and altruistic driven motivations. Benefits included increased self-worth, economic resources, and leverage for better healthcare treatment, and reduced internalized stigma and isolation. Negative consequences included defensive provider reactions, being further stereotyped, and decreased physical and mental health. (3) Recommendations for systemic change. Participants recommended trans inclusion in service delivery, development, and management, as well as increased provider education. Providers can leverage trans WLWH's personal and collective strengths while working in solidarity to reduce stigma in healthcare settings.

KEYWORDS:

• Access to care
• HIV/AIDS
• transgender women
• qualitative
• resilience

Acknowledgements

This dissertation study was funded by a Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Doctoral Fellowship. We would like to acknowledge the participants of the Canadian HIV Women's Sexual and Reproductive Health Cohort Study (CHIWOS). We also wish to acknowledge the administrative and recruitment support of the CHIWOS co-principal investigators Dr. Mona Loutfy, Dr. Angela Kaida, and Dr. Alexandra De Pokomandy, provincial coordinators Angela Underhill, Rebecca Gormley, Karène Proulx-Boucher, Yasmeen Persad, and the entire Peer Research Associate Team.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.