“They judge and discriminate you if you have HIV” – exploring the experiences of vulnerable community-dwelling older adults living with HIV in South Africa

Nonzwakazi Mnqonywa, Aurum Institute
Bomkazi Tutshana, SAMRC
Jill Hanass-Hancock, South African Medical Research Council
Nyirenda M, Ukzn

Abstract Older persons aged 50 years and above as a key population face exclusion and marginalization in accessing sexual and reproductive health rights and services. using qualitative methods, we aimed to explore the experiences that contribute to the exclusion and marginalization of OPLHIV at health facilities in South Africa. Guided and conventional thematic analysis was used to generate salient themes from the data collected during focus group discussions with the participants. Older people faced many barriers including lack of age-appropriate messaging, internalized stigma, and structural discrimination when accessing health services. Older people are severely impacted in access to health services increasing their vulnerability to poor health outcomes. The study highlights the need for urgent development of innovative ways to mitigate the challenges vulnerable older people face in accessing healthcare facilities and services, especially those living with HIV.

Keywords: Inequality, Disadvantage and Discrimination, Health and Morbidity, Population Ageing, Older Adults and Intergenerational Relations

See extended abstract.