LAUSR

This qualitative, phenomenological study explored four incarcerated adult females’ experiences that contributed to their human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) status and acts of murder. The participants were purposely selected based on their HIV status and their crime, murder. Data were collected through one-on-one interviews and available secondary reports on the topic. The goal of this research was to answer two questions: (1) What contributed to the female participants’ HIV-positive status? and (2) How did the females’ HIV-positive status shape their crime of murder? A thematic analysis was used to analyse and identify the factors linked to the participants’ HIV status and their crime. The findings suggest irregular testing of HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), promiscuous behaviour, partner infidelity and ignorance of partners’ HIV status as contributory factors to the females’ HIV-positive status. Specific childhood-related and adulthood-related factors explain the murder of the participants’ partners/spouses.