Can social workers mitigate the existential implications of an HIV diagnosis in the era of HAART?

ABSTRACT

Whilst it is commonly recognised that highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) has increased the life expectancy of people living with HIV (PLWH), it has also presented a number of new challenges that appear to have altered the experience of living with HIV considerably. This paper argues that significant advances and innovations in medical treatments has led to the marginalisation of a number of psychological, social and economic needs that stem from receiving a diagnosis of HIV. Rather than continuing to ignore both these difficulties and the existential implications of a diagnosis – such as restructuring one's sense of self, control and future orientation – a specific and tailored social work response is required to support PLWH in regaining their sense of control and self-determination. The study is based on findings from a focus group of 15 PLWH and a further 5 in-depth interviews; it thereby seeks to give a voice to a group frequently marginalised within social work research, and accurately capture the lived experiences of PLWH in the era of HAART.

KEYWORDS:

• HIV
• social work
• social policy
• existentialism
• mental health
• HAART

Acknowledgements

The author thanks Joan Fletcher – Head of Social Work at Goldsmiths University – for her thoughts, comments and guidance throughout; Gillian, for her immeasurable patience and support; and the kind organisation and participants that made this research possible.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes on contributor

Emile Lopez is a British social worker living in Vancouver, Canada. He currently works as an adolescent inpatient social worker, and has previously held positions in the UK in community mental health services and the HIV sector. He has a keen interest in exploring how other disciplines – such as individual psychotherapy and systemic family therapy – can be incorporated into social work practice.