COPING STRATEGIES AMONG HIV-POSITIVE PATIENTS

ABSTRACT Having effective ways to cope helps HIV-positive patients maintain good psychological and physical well-being with better quality of life (QoL). This research study assessed the personal coping strategies through the lived experiences of six (6) HIV-positive patients staying within the Klang Valley area through the phenomenological technique under the qualitative methodology. Thematic Analysis (TA) model was used to analyse the data in identifying the participants' relevant coping strategies. Overall, six coping strategies were essential for People Live With HIV/AIDS (PLWH) to eliminate the multiple stressors they face, leading to improve quality of life. The six coping strategies are social interaction, psychological, spirituality, medication, academic and nondisclosure. Studying coping mechanisms among HIV-positive patients is essential for counselling, which can be integrated into the intervention strategies. It is also helpful in developing training materials for counsellors, volunteers, social workers and teachers working with HIV populations