Abstract:
ABSTRACT
The study sought to explore the causes, effects and coping strategies among
adolescents living with HIV/AIDS in the New Juaben South Municipality. A
qualitative research design was adopted for the study. A purposive sampling method
was used to select a sample of 13 participants for the study. A self-developed
interview guide was used to collect data for the study. Thematic analysis was used
after verbatim responses were transcribed and themes were used for the data analysis.
The study found that misinformation about HIV transmission fuels stigma among
adolescents, leading to confusion, judgment, and emotional distress due to their .
HIV/AIDS status. Many wrongly associate HIV with promiscuity or unsafe behavior,
even when infections occur through birth. Also, it was realised that participants
experienced emotional stress. The study revealed that victims of HIV/AIDS sought
counselling services as a coping strategy. It was, therefore, recommended that to
prevent perinatal transmission of HIV/AIDS, lactating mothers who are HIV positive
should stop breastfeeding their babies and resort to the use of complementary foods.
Description:
A dissertation in the Department of Counselling Psychology, Faculty of
Educational Studies, submitted to the School of Graduate Studies in the partial
fulfilment of the requirements for the award of Master of Philosophy
(Counselling Psychology)
in the University of Education, Winneba
FEBRUARY, 2025
