[Roles and challenges of female heads of household with HIV/AIDS]

Objective To characterize the roles and challenges that female heads of households with HIV in Valle del Cauca, Colombia assume. Method A qualitative exploratory method, based on Grounded Theory was conducted. Data were collected through in depth interviews to 13 women with HIV, heads of household with ages between 19 and 46,who live in the cities of Cali and Buenaventura. Results The main roles assumed by women are taking care of their children and their homes, expressing affection, providing support during different life events and administrative procedures related to health care services access. The challenges expressed by these women include aspects related to parenting, being a self-care role model, accompanying and leading the diagnosis and adherence to the treatment children with HIV, revealing the diagnosis, providing the best living conditions, and providing access to goods and services. Conclusions The results of the study highlight the challenges that women living with a chronic illness, that is still loaded with stigma and discrimination, have to face. The social, economic, cultural and health aspects related to the inequities and inequalities in health, to gender and access to health services, to decent work and to education are made clear in this work.