Using Photovoice to Tell the Story of HIV Positive Women Deborah Craig MPH 2009

The Problem In the U.S., HIV/AIDS used to be a gay male disease, but now increasingly affects women In the U.S., HIV/AIDS used to be a gay male disease, but now increasingly affects women HIV/AIDS is less and less in the news, but there are over 50,000 new infections a year in the U.S. HIV/AIDS is less and less in the news, but there are over 50,000 new infections a year in the U.S.

The Problem (cont’d) Low-income women of color disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic Low-income women of color disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic “Social determinants”—poverty, racism, gender inequality—affect their vulnerability “Social determinants”—poverty, racism, gender inequality—affect their vulnerability Stereotypes surround HIV positive women: women of color, drug users, sex workers Stereotypes surround HIV positive women: women of color, drug users, sex workers All women are potentially vulnerable: marriage is currently a huge risk factor All women are potentially vulnerable: marriage is currently a huge risk factor

The Project Interviews with HIV positive women and providers who work with them Interviews with HIV positive women and providers who work with them “Photovoice” / photography project with HIV positive women “Photovoice” / photography project with HIV positive women 15-minute documentary film about the struggles and strengths of HIV positive women 15-minute documentary film about the struggles and strengths of HIV positive women

Interview Findings Service Provider Interviews Service Provider Interviews Race / racism Race / racism Socioeconomic status Socioeconomic status Gender inequality Gender inequality Interviews with HIV Positive Women Interviews with HIV Positive Women Multiple struggles (echoing provider themes) Multiple struggles (echoing provider themes) All women potentially at risk All women potentially at risk Resilience Resilience Desire to give back Desire to give back

Photovoice Findings: Struggles Psychological issues: Psychological issues: Depression Depression Isolation Isolation Stigma Stigma Physical Issues Physical Issues Co-morbidites Co-morbidites Side effects to medication Side effects to medication Social Issues Social Issues Poverty, substance abuse, homelessness, sex work Poverty, substance abuse, homelessness, sex work

Photovoice Findings: Support Family Friends Pets Religion/spirituality Communities of HIV positive women

Photovoice Findings: Dreams Self acceptance and care Self acceptance and care Helping other women Helping other women Advocacy and political activism: “I got to march in the women’s march in Mexico City, which was incredible. … And I’m now doing policy and advocacy statewide and I never thought I’d be doing this.” S. Young Advocacy and political activism: “I got to march in the women’s march in Mexico City, which was incredible. … And I’m now doing policy and advocacy statewide and I never thought I’d be doing this.” S. Young

The Film: “One Sister at a Time” Forum for self- expression for HIV positive women HIV/AIDS teaching tool Means of advocating for social transformation to combat the upstream causes of diseasehttp://doc4health.sfsu.efolioworld.com