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Abstract: According to UNAIDS, the Philippines is one of the seven countries globally and the only country in Southeast Asia that reported an increasing number of people infected with HIV / AIDS. Thus, this study aimed to understand the experiences of people living with HIV. This relate with the HIV Stigma framework by Earnshaw and Chaudoir (2009) stated that this develops to provide a way to recognize and measure the stigmatization of persons living with HIV and uninfected individuals on how stigma is experienced. The study also employed a qualitative research method , particularly an exploratory research design, to describe the experiences as the phenomenon of the study.
This study utilized a phenomenological research design to discover and describe the lived experiences as the study's phenomenon. It attempts to understand people's perceptions, perspectives, and understandings of a particular situation (or phenomenon). The phenomenological research study aims to aspire to pure self- expression. With non-interference from the researcher, there must be no leading questions. The researcher completes the bracketing process to be aware of their ideas and prejudices about the phenomenon of interest.
Phenomenological research explains the significance of many individuals' living experiences. The study's research design will be explained thoroughly in the research methodology sector in chapter one.
The researchers found out that people living with HIV have experienced stigma and discrimination. Thus, these findings extracted seven emergent themes. These common themes included, "Ending one's life is a better solution," "Seeking for shoulders to lean on," "Difficulties linked to one of the most fearful maladies," 'Social I11s Affecting PLWHA," "Looking into the Good of the Bad," "Struggles as Motivation," and person mentally, emotionally, and physically. The life of an HIV positive encompasses different struggles and challenges. The path they withhold to a dark alley and comprises sigma and discrimination along the way. the results recommend increasing and expanding the promotion of safe sex practices and HIV/AIDS health education, especially in rural areas, and establishing accessible testing centers, community-based advocates, and advertisement of personal testing kits. The Government must continue to assist PLWHA [People Living with HIV and AIDS] should be addressed, given the prevalence of depression and the danger of suicide. Thus, it emphasizes the relevance of support groups and the necessity to raise awareness. It suggests ongoing assistance and encouragement in making positive adjustments in their lifestyle and sexual practices. A religious group should embrace the sufferings of PWLHA [People Living with HIV and AIDS] self-advocacy skills.

Apuhin, Mercy Milagros College of Nursing Nursing

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