Exploring Spiritual and Religious Coping Among PLHIV in a Malaysian Muslim Community: A Qualitative Study

Aiza Nur Izdihar Zainal-Abidin; Farnaza Ariffin; Siti Fatimah Badlishah-Sham; Salmi Razali

doi:10.2147/HIV.S371554

Exploring Spiritual and Religious Coping Among PLHIV in a Malaysian Muslim Community: A Qualitative Study

HIV AIDS (Auckl). 2022 Aug 31:14:409-422. doi: 10.2147/HIV.S371554. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Aiza Nur Izdihar Zainal-Abidin¹, Farnaza Ariffin^{1

2}, Siti Fatimah Badlishah-Sham¹, Salmi Razali^{2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Primary Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia.
² Maternofoetal and Embryology Research Group (MatE), Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia.
³ Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia.

Abstract

Purpose: Increase in life expectancy of PLHIV has brought new challenges especially for young Malay Muslim men who have sex with men (MSM) in Malaysia. This country has strong religious and cultural roots that may pose as additional stigma and discrimination in the lives of PLHIV. Therefore, coping skills among PLHIV is important. Theories on coping strategies has shown that spiritual and religion are one aspect of emotional focused coping. The aim of this study is to explore the views on spiritual and religious (S/R) coping among Malay Muslim MSMs.

Patients and methods: This was a qualitative study using in-depth interview. Eligible participants were recruited using purposive and snowballing sampling techniques via NGOs and online flyers. The narrative inquiry approach was used to understand the lived experiences of PLHIV and their coping strategies, particularly using S/R coping. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using Qualitative Data Analysis (QDA) Miner. The data was analysed using thematic analysis.

Results: Interviews with seven participants yielded four themes. Ambivalence towards religion was experienced by participants at some point following their diagnosis. Using S/R as a form of self-reflection was identified. Having positive religious support from family or NGOs helped some participants to embrace religious coping rather than to avoid it, and relationship with God was an important aspect of religious coping.

Conclusion: Spirituality and religiosity can be a form of positive coping for PLHIV. This study suggests the need for S/R guidance as well as positive support from healthcare professionals and religious-based organizations for PLHIV. This can have positive effects towards handling of the condition, adherence to treatment and health outcomes.

Keywords: MSM; PLHIV; coping; religious; spiritual.

Grants and funding

This study was supported by grant from the Geran Penyelidikan Khas (GPK) (600-RMC/GPK 5/3 (200/2020)). The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.