Interview 41  

Interview 41

Age at Interview: 45
Sex: Female
Age at Diagnosis: 42
Background: A 45 year old woman who came to the UK from Africa over 4 years ago. She became sick and was diagnosed as HIV positive while studying in the UK.

Brief outline:Although she was monogamous, her partner was not, and she believes she picked up HIV from him. She has found support groups to be vital in her emotional wellbeing. (Video and audio clips read by an actor.)

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African men can find it particularly difficult when they cannot work. (Read by an actor.)

 



For instance, we were professional people… professional people right and when we came here I had reached the highest level of my profession. When I came here, everything went right down to the very basic. 

And I am living on vouchers. I have never had to think about how much do I spend to buy this and what have you. And half the time, I don't even have the money to buy anything. 

So I mean that… when it applies to the men, because the man thinks of his wife and his children. In our African culture, the man is supposed to be responsible for his family, the breadwinner. Whether he is good at it or not, but he is responsible for his family. 

Whereas the woman takes a subservient role in the family really. But that is why men really find it very difficult… Because the child will be saying I want this, I want that. I want shoes. The woman would be saying you are the man of the house, you must do this and that. And at the end of the day he can't do anything. He has got no money. That is why they feel so stressed out.

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