Estimación de la intensidad

Economic independence is another way of managing stigma and discrimination. If participants become economically independent, it is easier for them to keep their distance from other people, and this helps to protect them from stigma and discrimination. Some participants with moderate access to resources, especially males, work towards being economically independent so that they do not need to ask for money from other people. In Nepalese society, people ask for money from either relatives or neighbours in cases where they need it for important tasks such as marriage ceremony or other such functions, and sometimes even for daily expenses. When asking for money from relatives or neighbours, it is necessary to disclose the reason to them, especially while going to hospital for HIV treatment in the case of PLHIV. They are very likely to further disclose HIV status while conversing with each other. Therefore, participants do not ask for any financial help from others, because economic independence makes it easier to keep distance from them and protect themselves from the stigma of HIV. They thus have a strong resolution to become economically independent, perhaps by running a retail shop or by engaging extensively in their own farming.

ϭϳϮ

Some participants developed a vision of being economically independent, engaging vigorously in their own economic activities so that they do no need to ask money from others as stated above. Some participants developed this idea after being discriminated against by their distant family members. For example, Rajesh from outside the Kathmandu Valley, with moderate access to resources (the participant was living in a rural area) has not visited his relatives and not given information even to his wife (HIV- negative) to protect himself from discrimination. He shared his experience of managing his potential stigma and discrimination by not going to relatives’ places once he knew that he was not allowed to go to the relatives’ home located in Kathmandu.

…Then, I did not go to my relative’s home after hearing conversation with my mother through phone, and I have not gone so far. While I am alive, I will work myself and eat myself. Since then I thought, “I will not go anywhere else”. When I come to Kathmandu for a health checkup in regard to HIV, I stay here at this organization [where the interview took place] and will return home from the organization. I do not make any trouble to anyone because of my disease [HIV]. If someone says that it is difficult if I go there, what is the point to go there? So I do not go there. I am doing everything by myself. I have courage to run my business and doing well though I am an HIV positive person.

– Rajesh, Male

Some participants reported making a resolution to engage in farming as their earning source after being HIV diagnosed. In addition, they do not want to disclose their HIV status even to family members, thereby protecting themselves from HIV stigma and discrimination. They wanted to be engaged in agriculture activities for their daily

ϭϳϯ

livelihood, which they find easier to continue after failing to go overseas for better earnings. With these two different visions of not disclosing HIV status even with family members as well as engaging in farming for earnings, they plan to manage their expected stigma and discrimination as well as to manage their own livelihood. Such is the experience of Deepak, who was diagnosed as HIV positive less than a month before his interview for this research, in the process of routine testing to go to overseas jobs. He has not disclosed his HIV status, even to his wife (HIV-negative) and rest of the family members with a view to managing the expected stigma and discrimination. He has made plans to spend the rest of his life in agriculture. He shared his experience of making his future economic planning instead of going to any other countries.

…I was planning to go to a foreign country for work. I do not have any service [at government or non-government office jobs]…I am thinking to engage in farming. There is not a way of thinking going abroad because of this disease [HIV]. I have settled my mind in doing agriculture…I have kept it [HIV] silent within myself. Only I know it.

– Deepak, Male

Some participants have had dual economic visions, either by working in their farmland in rural areas or moving somewhere else with a view to managing expected discrimination in accordance with their family treatment. If they find positive treatment from family members, they stay at their home, giving them continuity with their earlier job that they have been doing for years. Basant, diagnosed with HIV 10 days prior to his interview for this research, expressed that his future economic strategy was conditional on the basis of family treatment, good or bad, to be experienced in the

ϭϳϰ

future. His economic planning either to stay at home or to migrate to cities will depend upon the reactions of his family members.

My parents and family [wife] will know about this [HIV] sooner or later. I will do accordingly as what they do [good or bad]. If they do not treat me well, then I will leave home and I may be able to do any small job. I am thinking and hoping so. When I get well, I will try to find a job and work at whatever I receive.

– Basant, Male Thus, he has already made his strategy of migrating to another place if he experiences stigmatization and discrimination even prior to reaching home from hospital, and the organization where his stay was for two weeks in accordance with the general rules of the organization.