ed to loss and grief. This fact makes looking at the concept of loss of major importance and significant in populations of HIV/AIDS patients, and serves as the rationale for this paper's examination of loss associated with the contraction of HIV and AIDS.
The purpose of the brief review of literature presented here is to examine research investigating the issues of grief and loss in samples of people with HIV and AIDS. In this regard, some research on AIDS and loss has focused on factors that facilitate or depress one's ability to cope with loss- and grief-related issues associated with the disease.
For example, Kelly (1998) has noted that while some individuals are able to cope well with the loss, grief and other challenges posed by HIV and AIDS, other people experience psychological difficulties. Based on a comprehensive review of the literature, Kelly concluded that the extent to which the HIV/AIDS patient is able to cope with loss is dependent on several factors. These factors are said to include: the presence of coexisting problems unrelated to HIV/AIDS, disclosure of HIV positive serostatus to others, making changes in transmission risk behavior practices, the number of losses associated with the disease, the degree to which caregivers experience and communicate stress, whether one has sufficient social supports, degree of adherence to medical care regimens, and the degree to which there is a positive self identity as a person living with HIV.
Another area of the research related to loss and grief experienced by people with HIV/AIDS has focused on the extent to which AIDS/HIV organizations are assisting people in coping with these issues. In this regard, Raphael and Woolcock (1993) conducted a national survey of 95 organizations, including AIDS Councils, hospitals, hospices, HIV/AIDS units in government departments and People Living With AIDS groups.
Survey questions inquired about issues such as wills, mourn...