Resiliency and empowerment of the HIV community in Nepal during Covid-19: equity and gender-based lenses
Resiliency and empowerment of the HIV community in Nepal during Covid-19: equity and gender-based lenses
Author
Dhungel, Rita
Faculty Advisor
Date
2020
Keywords
HIV community , empowerment , COVID-19 , human rights , equity
Abstract (summary)
This paper examines the voices and experiences of one of the marginalised
communities, Women Living with HIV (WLWH) in Nepal at the intersections
of COVID-19 and structural inequality and injustice. The overarching goal of
this paper is to identify impact and implications of COVID-19 on the HIV
community with a focus on factors that further escalate their vulnerability to
socio-economic marginalisation and mental and psychological challenges. This
study was guided by Interpretative Phenomenology Analysis (IPA). For the
purpose of this study two focus groups and semi structured interviews were
virtually conducted with 11 Women Living with HIV (WLWH) in Kathmandu,
Nepal, using a qualitative paradigm. The Psychosocial Pyramid was used to
analyse the data, and through thematic analysis the data was coded and
categorised from equity and human rights lenses. This community-based study
uncovered that the WLWH experience of COVID-19 was further compounded
by gender oppression. At a national level, the Government of Nepal imposed a
lockdown as an appropriate measure to limit the spread of COVID-19, but this
response failed to adequately meet the needs of marginalized populations,
especially WLWH, due to a number of restrictions of the lockdown. The
emergency relief program, mainly food hamper, was introduced as part of the
lockdown response that did not even maintain the privacy of WLWH. It is
imperative for the Government to acknowledge the challenges and vulnerability
that WLWH experience from COVID-19, which are discussed in the results
section, and develop integrative approaches, programs and policies in
addressing these issues in the second wave of COVID and post-COVID-19.
Publication Information
Dhungel, R. (2020). Resiliency and empowerment of the HIV community in Nepal during Covid-19: Equity and gender-based lenses. International Journal of Innovation, Creativity and Change, [Special Issue], 14(6), 302-319.
DOI
Notes
Item Type
Article
Language
English
Rights
All Rights Reserved