Vilma Žydžiūnaitė
Abstract
Summary
The article is focused on possible fears, demands, needs and factors that are reflected by PLHIV concerning educational sector in Lithuanian context. For research chosen qualitative research strategy, which is based on two knowledge positions such as socially constructed knowledge and participant knowledge. For data collection was applied in – depth interview and the data was analyzed by using the qualitative content analysis.
PLHIV experience the fear of being rejected after informing others about his or her HIV diagnosis because they do not trust the ability of their environment to keep confidentiality and are afraid of negative attitudes which manifest themselves as special attention towards PLHIV, and not always in a positive sense. Therefore, PLHIV make a decision to inform their environment only in exceptional cases according to the need and intensity of communication with particular persons. Communication with a medical specialist and a psychologist according to need is vital for PLHIV. The medical specialist in the educational system should not only perform the role of a consultant but also engage in educational activity by working with the school’s teachers because the latter forms attitudes in the school.
The analysis of the experiences of PLHIV revealed the necessity to develop social competence of students in schools, to promote their awareness of general life values, to involve parents in the awareness-raising process by providing information about HIV / AIDS based on scientific arguments, and to develop and expand specific knowledge (of anatomy, physiology, infectology, pharmacology, psychology, education, sociology) of teachers related to the HIV / AIDS context. However, education must be professional, carried out by professional medical specialists and psychologists who have experience in working with PLHIV. Also relevant is the engagement of PLHIV themselves in education within educational institutions by transferring their experience to school communities.
Keyword(s): education, experience, medical specialist, people with AIDS / HIV, qualitative content analysis.
DOI: 10.5200/142
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