A Phenomenological Study on the Lived Experiences of Korean Men Living with HIV

ABSTRACT

This qualitative phenomenological study explores the meaning of the experiences of Korean men living with HIV by focusing on how they incorporate their HIV status when constructing and reconstructing their self-concepts, stigma recognition, relationships, and life plans. For this purpose, in-depth interviews were conducted with 7 voluntarily consented participants, and 4 main themes related to the phenomenon of their experiences emerged from the interview transcript. These 4 themes were “being stuck in a dark tunnel,” “wandering in the cold and dark tunnel,” “going toward a silver lining,” and “living together.” In other words, their lived experiences of living with HIV can be understood as “turning back from the door of death and learning how to live together.” The study results suggest that to prioritize reduction of HIV stigma is essential for the social work practice, and HIV carriers need to be supported with integrated social work services and spirituality for successful social adaptation. Future research should be broadened to consider the viewpoints of a wider range of people with HIV, including women, and their family members.

KEYWORDS:

• Korean men with HIV
• lived experiences
• phenomenological study
• qualitative research
• stigma recognition