Acupuncture and Stress in Persons Living With HIV/AIDS in rural South Carolina: A Qualitative Perspective

The USC/Claflin Center for Excellence in Partnerships, Outreach, Research on Health Disparities and Training focuses on HIV/AIDS, particularly among people living in Orangeburg County, South Carolina. The rates of incidence and mortality from HIV infection are disproportionately higher in Orangeburg and several other rural regions across South Carolina. As evidenced in scientific literature, HIV/AIDS is becoming more of a chronic disorder rather than a terminal illness. Medical care and subsequent medications are oftentimes expensive, thus making accessibility more challenging for persons who are uninsured or underinsured. This led to the exploration of alternative treatments for some symptoms associated with HIV/AIDS. Research indicates that when a person is diagnosed with HIV, their stress level increases while oral immune function decreases over time.

Sixty-three HIV+ persons were enrolled in the Acupuncture and Oral Immune Function project. This research utilized a single-blinded, randomized crossover design. Persons were asked open ended questions about their experiences with acupuncture and their opinions on its effectiveness at baseline, midpoint and at the conclusion of the treatment. Responses were coded and analyzed using NVivo 2.0. Themes that emerged were barriers to this type of treatment (systemic and intrinsic), perceived reduction of stress because of acupuncture from placebo-receiving participants, and an overall reduction of stress, pain relief, and muscle relaxation from participants receiving acupuncture. This research indicates that if systemic barriers to access are reduced or eliminated, acupuncture can be a viable method of reducing stress and alleviating other symptoms experienced in HIV-positive persons.