?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.relation=http%3A%2F%2Fd-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu%2F11985%2F&rft.title='Ethernichel'%E2%80%94Swimming+Against+the+Flow%3A%0D%0AUnderstanding+the+Unique+Needs+and+Concerns+of+Widowed+and+Abandoned+Women+in+Chennai%2C+India&rft.creator=Paul%2C+Sharon%2F+T.&rft.description=Background%3AThe+social+contexts+and+roles+of+women+in+India%2C+in+conjunction+with+the+plight+of+widows+and+abandoned+women+and+the+stigma+and+discrimination+associated+with+HIV%2FAIDS+fosters+a+difficult+lived+reality+for+a+growing+segment+of+the+population.+Care+and+support+measures+for+those+infected+with+HIV+are+losing+priority+but+are+of+public+health+relevance+and+importance.+Therefore%2C+this+study+aims+to+understand+the+perception+of+quality+of+life+in+combination+with+needs+and+concerns+of+HIV+positive+women+in+South+India.+Qualitative+research+methods+were+utilized+in+order+to+achieve+these+aims+and+provide+insight+to+propose+recommendations+to+affect+future+public+health+practice.%0D%0AMethods%3A+Working+closely+with+World+Vision+India%E2%80%99s+GRACE+Program%2C+an+evaluation+was+completed%2C+and+the+results+were+subsequently+analyzed+for+this+study.+Focus+group+discussions%2C+participant+and+non-participant+observations+along+with+reflection+journals+were+conducted%2C+recorded+and+analyzed+for+emerging+themes.+%0D%0AResults%3A+The+theoretical+frameworks+utilized+resulted+in+a+conceptual+model+that+combines+the+constructs+of+two+different+theories+with+the+unique+identity+of+participants+identified+as+the+triple+burden.+The+triple+burden+consists+of+being+HIV+positive%2C+being+a+woman+and+being+the+new+head+of+household.+Needs+and+concerns+related+to+improving+quality+of+life+were+identified+surrounding+the+particularly+the+need+for+housing+and+financial+security%2C+with+explicit+desire+for+government+housing+and+specialized+livelihood+training+expressed+by+participants.+%0D%0AConclusion%3A+Care+and+support+is+an+important+component+of+combating+the+HIV%2FAIDS+epidemic.+Widowed+and+abandoned+women+in+South+India+are+a+forgotten+population+and+it+is+imperative+to+improve+their+quality+of+life+in+a+multi-pronged+manner+by+tailoring+microfinance+and+livelihood+training%2C+endorsing+the+passage+of+the+HIV%2FAIDS+Bill%2C+and+continuing+promotion+and+advocacy+of+education+and+awareness+around+HIV%2FAIDS+and+the+rights+of+women+and+widows.&rft.date=2012-06-29&rft.type=University+of+Pittsburgh+ETD&rft.type=PeerReviewed&rft.format=application%2Fpdf&rft.language=en&rft.identifier=http%3A%2F%2Fd-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu%2F11985%2F1%2Fpaulst_pittetd2012.pdf&rft.identifier=++Paul%2C+Sharon%2F+T.++(2012)+'Ethernichel'%E2%80%94Swimming+Against+the+Flow%3A+Understanding+the+Unique+Needs+and+Concerns+of+Widowed+and+Abandoned+Women+in+Chennai%2C+India.++Master's+Thesis%2C+University+of+Pittsburgh.++++(Unpublished)++