Degree Name
MA in Diplomacy and International Relations
First Advisor
Bruce Dayton
Abstract
South Africa has a high rate of HIV, with young women in Durban especially affected due to social, economic, and cultural challenges. This study looks at the experiences of young women living with HIV and the views of healthcare professionals caring for them in KwaZulu-Natal. Using a qualitative, phenomenological approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with five women and three medical professionals to explore how HIV affects their lives, the challenges they face, and how they cope.
The findings show that both structural and personal barriers make it hard for young women to stick to treatment. Long waits at clinics, limited youth friendly services and a lack of mental health support made care difficult. Women also described stress, depression, and anxiety after diagnosis, which sometimes affected their ability to take medication regularly. Difficult interactions with healthcare staff, such as not explaining test results, also made care harder.
Despite these challenges, women showed resilience through support groups, family help, advocacy, and faith. These resources helped them manage stress, stay on treatment, and feel more in control of their lives. Healthcare professionals highlighted how poverty, gender inequality, and stigma further limit women’s ability to protect their health. These findings show the need for programs that address not just medical treatment but also social, emotional, and structural barriers. Supporting mental health, reducing stigma, and strengthening community and family support are key to helping young women in Durban stay healthy and empowered.
Disciplines
Critical and Cultural Studies | Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication | Health Communication | Health Policy | Journalism Studies | Nonprofit Studies | Other Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration | Peace and Conflict Studies | Social Influence and Political Communication | Social Justice | Social Statistics | Social Welfare | Social Work | Urban Studies and Planning
Recommended Citation
Nolasco, Adrian A., "The Disproportionate Impact of HIV on Young Women in Durban: Exploring Gendered Vulnerabilities and Socioeconomic Barriers" (2026). Capstone Collection. 3354.
https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/capstones/3354
Included in
Critical and Cultural Studies Commons, Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication Commons, Health Communication Commons, Health Policy Commons, Journalism Studies Commons, Nonprofit Studies Commons, Other Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration Commons, Peace and Conflict Studies Commons, Social Influence and Political Communication Commons, Social Justice Commons, Social Statistics Commons, Social Welfare Commons, Social Work Commons, Urban Studies and Planning Commons