Learning about an individual’s HIV status
A lot of the individuals (17) self-reported looking for an HIV test as a result of a disease or indications thereof. For some, somebody or a young child’s infection (or death in a cases that are few made them look for an HIV test. One participant tested during maternity. Several individuals reported assessment must be (male) partner was in fact unfaithful and also this had resulted in suspicions. Nine participants stated that they’d been contaminated through their previous male lovers.
Eight individuals stated that that they had been raped. Three of them desired an HIV test directly after the rape incident. The three associated their HIV good status with the rape event:
“I became young and there clearly was very little we knew. I happened to be 12 years of age in 1994 and I also ended up being raped by my uncle. (we tested) I had to (test) because I was raped and. My moms and dads took me personally to hospital while the physician stated he’d do most of the tests. (whenever I learned) I thought I became dying. Then again I happened to be a young child I think I was numb to everything…”Buli, 28 yrs old, Durban so I didn’t know
“If only I became perhaps not raped, i might never be HIV positive… we experienced plenty of anger…” Mapule, 29 yrs old, Johannesburg
“How i acquired infected…I have three men. Since I have have always been a lesbian and extremely butch, most of my buddies had been males. As soon as we will be consuming, they’d make use of me… in my situation it absolutely was rape because that’s the way I got my children… ”. Glenda, 37 yrs old, Namibia|They would take advantage of me… For me it was rape because that’s how I got my children… ”. Glenda, 37 yrs old, Namibia when we would be drinking
Lesbians in Southern Africa especially are becoming certain goals of rape, a kind of rape that is designed to `heterosexualise’ them (Mkhize et al. 2010). Because they were lesbians, it is alarming that even in such a small sample, so many women reported having been raped while we may not claim that the women in this study were targeted.
Knowledge about testing
Individuals claimed it was hard and usually unpleasant to find an HIV test, as VCT counsellors are generally ill-informed or interested in same-sex intimate preference. As one participant claimed, her counsellor shifted the main focus far from providing help about HIV up to a pre-occupation about her sexual orientation:
“All I’m able to state is – it is difficult for a lesbian to try using HIV test. I am aware this myself, first when you’re for counselling this will depend that is providing you with that counselling… You get there and so they inform you of condoms and that you must utilize them…you let them know “ I do not do men”. You will get a person who is empty ( perhaps maybe maybe not informed) and also the subject for counselling changes. `How do you will do it? (have sexual intercourse with females)’ you merely get agitated when you’re said to be coping with the news headlines you are HIV good while the discussion has changed as you are gay. ” Lesego, 29 yrs old, Pretoria
The health provider was so insensitive after learning about her sexual orientation that he threw her HIV test results on the floor for another participant
“I experienced this constant frustration which…would not stop. Then I went along to the doctor…Two days later, We returned once more, and HIV tests had been run they told me I was HIV positive on me, that’s when. That medical practitioner was not so excellent am I sexually active, and I said `yes’ with me because one of the things he asked me was. Then he asked if with a person or a lady. We said `both’ after which he tossed my outcomes letter on to the floor and stated that if i really could rest both with women and men i possibly could browse the report from the page that i will be HIV good. He dropped it on the ground. ” Mapule, 29 yrs old, Johannesburg
The anxieties related to HIV evaluating for lesbians declare that more work has to be achieved to sensitise health care professionals about individuals diverse preferences that are sexual orientations. This might get an extended option to make certain that consumers aren’t up against 
the possibility double stigma of disclosure of the intimate orientation. It is the curious questions about same-sex sexual acts that the participant had to entertain if it is not a negative attitude, as one participant above explained.
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