“Bearing my fruit into the grave”: experiences of anticipatory grieving and bereavement among Zimbabwean HIV positive women with loss of their only child

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the bereavement experiences of HIV positive women who had lost their only child. Participants were 10 women living with HIV (age range = 24–35 years) and with loss of their only child. Data on experiences of anticipatory grief and bereavement among HIV positive women were collected over a period of six months. The data were analysed thematically. Findings suggest the women to have traumatic memories of their deceased children and also from the marital disharmony which followed the loss. The participants reported to have questioned their womanhood since they did not have any surviving child and dreaded the fact that they would die childless. Women also reported a sense of persona worthlessness following the death of the child and lived in fear and uncertainty of the future concerning their own mortality.

Keywords:

• HIV positive women
• bereavement
• child death
• Zimbabwe