HIV and Aging in Rural Cameroon: Experiences of Adults Aged 70 Years and Older Living with HIV in Bafia “For Us Who Are Ill, Old Age Begins At Fifty!”

Background: Rural areas present a unique context for aging. For those living with HIV, aging is a result of unexpected increased life expectancy due to access to antiretroviral treatments. While aging with HIV confronts individuals with multiple vulnerabilities, aging in a rural setting presents an additional challenge. The objective of this study was to analyze the experience of aging with HIV among elderly individuals living in rural Cameroon. Methodology: In-depth interviews were conducted with 14 elderly individuals recruited at the HIV Unit Care of the Bafia District Hospital between April 2022 and September 2023. Participants were individuals aged 70 and over living with HIV who consented to participate in the study. Data were collected using interview guides through individual interviews and focus group discussions. Results: Data analysis revealed that most older adults living with HIV (OA+) perceived aging with HIV in a rural setting as an immense privilege. Having survived the countless hardships associated with the HIV journey and having access to ART greatly contributed to this positive view. OA+ were well supported and cared for, and social interactions were maintained despite health problems related to physiological aging. However age-related health issues such as debilitating chronic illnesses did affect quality of life. Conclusion: Aging with HIV in rural areas was perceived a positive experience, despite some instances of stigmatization and rejection and limited access to healthcare. Therefore, it is incumbent upon public health actors to improve the quality of life of older adults living with HIV and, more broadly, of aging populations throughout Cameroon.

Aging; HIV; Lived experience; rural environment; Cameroon

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