Experiences and Support Needs of Poverty- Stricken People Living With HIV in the Potchefstroom District in South Africa Anita T. Feitsma, MCur Magdalena P. Koen, PhD Abel J. Pienaar, PhD Catharina S. Minnie, MCur This study was undertaken to address the lack of support for poverty-stricken people living with HIV that was identified in the Potchefstroom district in the North-West Province in South Africa. A qualitative phenomenological design was used to explore the experience, identify the support needs, and formulate guidelines for effective support for poverty-stricken people living with HIV. A total of 25 in-depth inter- views guided by two central questions resulted in the following themes: facilitative and impeding experi- ences of poverty-stricken people living with HIV, basic needs, psychosocial needs, cultural-spiritual needs, and self-actualization needs. The experience of poverty-stricken people living with HIV in the Potchefstroom district is closely related to their sup- port needs. To address these needs holistically and to enhance the quality of life of poverty-stricken people living with HIV, the needs should first be addressed individually. Following that, the collective needs can be addressed by a support system. Key words: HIV and AIDS, life experience, needs, poverty, social support, South Africa South Africa has the highest number of HIV-infected people in the world; more than 5 million people are living with HIV and AIDS, and deaths from AIDS are expected to rise sharply until 2010 (Nattrass, 2004; Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/ADIS & World Health Organization [UNAIDS], 2003). In the North West Province, the province in which the Potchefstroom district is situated, HIV prevalence was 29.9% in 2003 (Makubalo, Netshidzivhani, & Mahla- sela, 2003). The North West Province is one of the nine provinces of South Africa, and the Potchefstroom dis- trict is situated 115 km southwest of Johannesburg (Dikeni, 2002). The poorest people in this district form the part of the population that is the most severely affected by HIV and AIDS. This is confirmed in the HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Disease Strategic Plan for South Africa (2000-2005), which clearly indi- cates that the HIV pandemic is severely affecting the young, Black, and economically poor populations of South Africa (Kotze, 2001). In the Potchefstroom dis- trict, 40% of the Black population is living below the poverty line, and the number of poor people and the extent of poverty among this population are higher than in South Africa on average (Serumaga-Zake & Naudé, 2002). Furthermore, in a study focusing on HIV and AIDS counseling carried out in the Potchefstroom district, 80% of the participants, who were poverty- Anita T. Feitsma is a master’s student, Magdalena P. Koen is an associate professor, School of Nursing Science, Abel J. Pienaar is a senior lecturer, School of Nursing Science, and Catharina S. Minnie is a senior lecturer, School of Nursing Science, all at North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom, South Africa. JOURNAL OF THE ASSOCIATION OF NURSES IN AIDS CARE, Vol. 18, No. 3, May/June 2007, 55-64 doi:10.1016/j.jana.2007.03.006 Copyright © 2007 Association of Nurses in AIDS Care