Exploring the perceptions and lived experiences of family members living with people diagnosed with COVID-19 in South Africa: a descriptive phenomenological study.

BACKGROUND: The incidence and prevalence of COVID-19 continues to escalate globally, with the consequence to quality of life, the economies of nations and various sectors of society. While there is substantial research on the impact and experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic, little remains known about the perceptions and lived experiences of families living with people diagnosed with COVID-19, particularly within the South African context. PURPOSE: To explore the perceptions and lived experiences of family members  living with people diagnosed with COVID-19 in South Africa. METHODS: A descriptive phenomenological design was used. Data were collected from 15 participants who were family members of people diagnosed with COVID-19 in South Africa. Purposive snowball sampling was used to identify and recruit participants, and data were collected at community level in KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape and Gauteng, South Africa. Individual in-depth interviews were used to collect the data, and an audio tape was used to record all interviews. Data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using a phenomenological data analysis processes. Ethical approval to conduct the study was obtained from the University of KwaZulu-Natal Research Ethics Committee-reference number: BREC00003228/2021. RESULTS: Four super-ordinate themes emerged in relation to the perceptions and lived experiences of family members  living with people diagnosed with COVID-19 in South Africa. The superordinate themes were: (1) sources of information about COVID-19, (2) pandemic  perceptions and experiences, (3) impact of diagnosis and related burden and (4) aftermath of living with a family member diagnosed with COVID-19. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Family members' perceptions and lived experiences of COVID-19 are largely influenced by media, moreover, the impact of diagnosis has consequences for the physical, mental and emotional well-being of family members. Diagnosis disrupts family dynamics by depleting financial resources due to  the caregiver burden experienced. The findings thus imply that provision of psychosocial support is imperative for families living with persons diagnosed with COVID-19.

Lived experiences of human immunodeficiency virus and hypertension in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.

BACKGROUND: Globally, the healthcare system is burdened with the rise in communicable diseases compounded by the comorbidity of non-communicable diseases. South Africa in particular experiences a quadruple burden of diseases, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hypertension are amongst the burden of diseases reported. AIM: This article aims to explore and describe the lived experiences of people living with HIV (PLWH) and hypertension in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. SETTING: The study was conducted in the Sakhisizwe sub-district within the Chris Hani health district of the Eastern Cape. METHODS: A qualitative study design using Husserl's descriptive phenomenology underpinned this study. Purposive sampling method was used to select participants. Information was gathered using semi-structured interviews from nine participants who met the inclusion criteria. The interviews were recorded on an audiotape and conducted in isiXhosa, and these were verified through back and forward translation to English. The transcribed interviews were coded manually, and underpinned by Giorgi's phenomenological data analysis steps. RESULTS: This study yielded four themes that described the journey towards a new normal experienced by participants. These themes were (1) overcoming illness-related stigma, (2) sources of support, (3) self-love: taking ownership of the diseases and (4) creating transforming behaviours and self-care strategies. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that the central theme that emerged from the lived experiences of participants with HIV and hypertension was a process of finding a new normal for their lives. This process had several enabling and inhibiting conditions that enabled participants to develop self-acceptance and find strategies to transform behaviours to better live with two chronic illnesses.