{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,4]],"date-time":"2026-05-04T00:08:12Z","timestamp":1777853292164,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":30,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,1]],"date-time":"2025-01-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1735689600000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["journals.sagepub.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["J Int Assoc Provid AIDS Care"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)\/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) counselors play a crucial, albeit challenging, role in preventing and controlling HIV. People living with HIV (PLHIV) need emotional support in addition to clinical treatment. Counseling is more difficult for female counselors, considering the psychological and emotional aspects of HIV counseling.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methodology<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A qualitative study design was used to understand the complexity of the challenges faced by female HIV counselors. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was employed as the research design. A small, homogeneous sample was purposively selected, comprising all 11 female HIV counselors in the Kashmir province and one female counselor in Leh (Ladakh). The IPA methodology was utilized, which emphasizes meaning-making and understanding the counselor's perspectives. The study was conducted from December 2022 to January 2023, with data collected through in-depth interviews at the counselors\u2019 workplaces and via Zoom for the Leh participant. Data were analyzed thematically using the IPA approach, revealing the counselors\u2019 real-life experiences, perceptions, and challenges.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The analysis generated two superordinate themes with multiple overarching themes and sub-themes: Intrusive emotional and psychological experiences: Counselors experienced significant emotional strain, including emotional exhaustion, burnout, and stigma. Inadequate skills for effective counseling of people who inject drugs (PWID): Limited training hindered effective counseling for substance users and PWID, highlighting the need for specialized training.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Female HIV counselors in Kashmir face numerous psychological and emotional challenges, including emotional exhaustion, burnout, and stigma. Additionally, there is a lack of adequate training for counseling substance users. Addressing these issues through specialized training, stigma reduction initiatives, and mental health support is crucial for improving HIV counseling services and the overall HIV\/AIDS response in the region.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1177\/23259582251321035","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,19]],"date-time":"2025-02-19T01:04:56Z","timestamp":1739927096000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/sage-journals-update-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Psychological and Emotional Challenges  Faced by Female HIV Counselors in  Kashmir\u2014A Phenomenological Study"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"24","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1117-0817","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Khalid","family":"Bashir","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Community Medicine, GMC Srinagar, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, India"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8559-8010","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Inaamul","family":"Haq","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Community Medicine, GMC Srinagar, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, India"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Mariya Amin","family":"Qurieshi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Community Medicine, GMC Srinagar, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, India"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"S. Muhammad Salim","family":"Khan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Community Medicine, GMC Srinagar, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, India"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,18]]},"reference":[{"key":"bibr1-23259582251321035","unstructured":"National AIDS Control Organization, CMR_National Institute of Medical Statistics. India HIV Estimates 2020. Web Version. 2021;1\u201344. Available from: http:\/\/naco.gov.in\/sites\/default\/files\/India%20HIV%20Estimates2020__Web_Version_0.pdf"},{"key":"bibr2-23259582251321035","unstructured":"National AIDS Control Organization. National HIV Counseling and Testing Services (HCTS) Guidelines. 2016;1\u2013188. Available from: http:\/\/www.naco.gov.in\/sites\/default\/files\/National%20HIV%20Counseling%20and%20Testing%20Services%20Guideline,%20December%202016_0.pdf"},{"key":"bibr3-23259582251321035","volume-title":"AIDS action now","author":"Jackson H","year":"1992"},{"issue":"10","key":"bibr4-23259582251321035","first-page":"10","volume":"9","author":"Mbetu-Nzvenga Gudyanga E","year":"2013","journal-title":"Asian Soc Sci"},{"key":"bibr5-23259582251321035","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/09540121.2014.936819"},{"key":"bibr6-23259582251321035","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2989\/16085906.2015.1040812"},{"key":"bibr7-23259582251321035","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.31579\/2642-9756\/159"},{"issue":"4","key":"bibr8-23259582251321035","first-page":"745","volume":"105","author":"Kelder I","year":"2021","journal-title":"Patient Educ Couns"},{"key":"bibr9-23259582251321035","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.18203\/2394-6040.ijcmph20205712"},{"key":"bibr10-23259582251321035","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/2049463714541642"},{"key":"bibr11-23259582251321035","volume-title":"Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches","author":"Creswell JW","year":"2016"},{"key":"bibr12-23259582251321035","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1017\/CBO9781139173483.003"},{"key":"bibr13-23259582251321035","first-page":"51","volume-title":"Qualitative psychology: a practical guide to research methods","author":"Smith J","year":"2003"},{"issue":"1","key":"bibr14-23259582251321035","first-page":"12","volume":"20","author":"Pietkiewicz I","year":"2014","journal-title":"Czasopisma Psychologiczne Psychol J"},{"key":"bibr15-23259582251321035","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4135\/9781446282243.n19"},{"key":"bibr16-23259582251321035","volume-title":"Focus groups: A practical guide for applied research","author":"Krueger RA","year":"2014"},{"key":"bibr17-23259582251321035","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/jan.13492"},{"key":"bibr18-23259582251321035","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1525822X05279903"},{"issue":"9","key":"bibr19-23259582251321035","first-page":"1408","volume":"20","author":"Fusch PI","year":"2015","journal-title":"Qual Rep"},{"key":"bibr20-23259582251321035","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/160940690200100202"},{"issue":"1","key":"bibr21-23259582251321035","first-page":"1","volume":"8","author":"Carey JW","year":"1996","journal-title":"Field Methods"},{"key":"bibr22-23259582251321035","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/intqhc\/mzm042"},{"key":"bibr23-23259582251321035","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12916-019-1271-3"},{"key":"bibr24-23259582251321035","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12916-019-1256-2"},{"issue":"7","key":"bibr25-23259582251321035","first-page":"55","volume":"48","author":"Clay RA","year":"2017","journal-title":"Monitor on Psychol"},{"key":"bibr26-23259582251321035","unstructured":"Mitchell CM. 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