Challenges Faced By Female Counselors in Providing HIV Testing and Counseling Services in Kashmir: A Qualitative Interpretive Inquiry

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorQurieshi, MAen_US
dc.contributor.authorHaq, Ien_US
dc.contributor.authorBashir, Ken_US
dc.contributor.authorKhan, SMen_US
dc.contributor.authorMattoo, Sen_US
dc.contributor.authorBhat, IFen_US
dc.contributor.authorRather, IAen_US
dc.date.accessioned2025-08-13T11:28:21Z
dc.date.available2025-08-13T11:28:21Z
dc.date.issued2025-06
dc.description.abstractBackground: India’s adult HIV prevalence (15–49 years) has declined from 0.54% in 2000–2001 to 0.22%. Female HIV counselors encounter significant challenges, particularly given the cultural sensitivities around discussing sexual health. Objectives: To explore the lived experiences of female HIV counselors in Kashmir in providing HIV counseling. To examine the latent and manifest challenges embedded in providing counseling to HIV-positive patients. Materials and Methods: This qualitative study employed interpretative phenomenological analysis(IPA). In-depth interviews were conducted with 11 female HIV counselors working in Integrated Counseling and Testing Centers across Kashmir from December 2022 to January 2023. One interview with a counselor from Leh was conducted via Zoom. Data were transcribed and analyzed using IPA to identify the key themes. Results: The data analysis revealed a lack of institutional support, inadequate counseling spaces, and skepticism about counseling effectiveness. Most HIV counselors (81%) reported insufficient support from hospital authorities, and 72% experienced breaches in patient confidentiality, highlighting a lack of supervision and administrative backing. In addition, 90% indicated that counseling spaces lacked privacy, compromising the quality of sessions, (63%) expressed doubts about the effectiveness of their counseling due to heavy workloads and limited time. Conclusion: Female HIV counselors in Kashmir face various challenges, including a lack of privacy, workforce, supervision, and support from hospital administration. Additional issues include inadequate training, particularly in counseling substance users, insufficient HIV sensitization training for healthcare professionals, and dissatisfying salaries. Addressing these factors is essential for improving the efficacy of HIV counseling services in the region.en_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsAssistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, Indiaen_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsAssociate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, Indiaen_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsSenior Resident, Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, Indiaen_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsProfessor and Head, Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, Indiaen_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsProject Director, J and K AIDS Control Society, Jammu and Kashmir, Indiaen_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsAssistant Director, J and K AIDS Control Society, Jammu and Kashmir, Indiaen_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsAssistant Director, J and K AIDS Control Society, Jammu and Kashmir, Indiaen_US
dc.identifier.citationQurieshi MA, Haq I, Bashir K, Khan SM, Mattoo S, Bhat IF, Rather IA. Challenges Faced By Female Counselors in Providing HIV Testing and Counseling Services in Kashmir: A Qualitative Interpretive Inquiry. Indian Journal of Public Health. 2025 Jun; 69(2): 178-184en_US
dc.identifier.issn0019-557X
dc.identifier.issn2229-7693
dc.identifier.placeIndiaen_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/253908
dc.languageenen_US
dc.publisherWolters Kluwer – Medknowen_US
dc.relation.issuenumber2en_US
dc.relation.volume69en_US
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.4103/ijph.ijph_1482_23en_US
dc.subjectFemale counselorsen_US
dc.subjectHIV counselingen_US
dc.subjectHIV/AIDSen_US
dc.titleChallenges Faced By Female Counselors in Providing HIV Testing and Counseling Services in Kashmir: A Qualitative Interpretive Inquiryen_US
dc.typeJournal Articleen_US
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
IJPH2025v69n2p178.pdf
Size:
397.19 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download
Collections
Indian Journal of Public Health