‘So hurt and broken’: A qualitative study of experiences of violence and HIV outcomes among Zambian youth living with HIV

Figures & data

Table 1. Experiences of psychological abuse among adolescents and young adults living with HIV in Ndola, Zambia, in their own words, distinguished by whether the youth believed the abuse was related and unrelated to his/her HIV-positive status.

Related to HIV-positive status based on self-report	Not related to HIV-positive status based on self-report
‘I don’t like HIV positive people and I don’t even want them near me. I don’t want to share my things with them.’ (Aunt to female participant)	‘You should just die … We are finding food for you and you are not contributing. It is better your elder brother, the one who died, if he was the one alive.’ (Auntie to male participant)
‘You can’t stay here because of your HIV status.’ (Sister-in-law to female participant)	‘Maybe you are not even you father’s child … You, I doubt if you will complete school by grade nine. You will fall pregnant … You are a dog … You are a fool.’ (Step-mother to female participant)
'If you want to be eating, you should be cooking for yourself like that, and have your own plate.’ (Female friend to female participant)	‘We did not leave some food for you … You can just stay like that. Today you won’t eat.’ (Female cousin to male participant)
‘[You] should not be using some utensils because [you] will infect [your] siblings.’ (Step-mother to male participant)	‘Find some other place [to] stay … . This is not your mother’s house. This is my house.’ (Elder brother to male participant)
‘You should feel sorry for yourself. You know how you are.’ (Aunt to female participant)	You ‘child of a dog … mistake … ’ (Female cousin to female participant)
‘She is becoming a burden.’ (Father to step-mother, overheard by female participant)	‘She thinks we are related. We don’t like her.’ (Step-siblings with reference to female participant)
‘I am not the one who infected you with HIV … That’s why your mom refuses to keep you.’ (Step-mother to female participant)	‘No, no, that child is a disobedient child. He is spoiled and one day, if I have a gun, I would be able to shoot him.’ (Sister to mother, in front of male participant)