HIV-positive pregnant women often do not disclose their infected to partners, family or friends, creating potential barriers to
preventing sexual transmission to partners and mother-to-child
transmission through breastfeeding. A study published in the October 2008 issue of AIDS Care examines recently
diagnosed HIV-positive pregnant women and their reasons for disclosure and
non-disclosure of seropositive status to various members of their social
networks, as well as the consequences of their disclosure. Using a semi-structured
interview format, 293 recently diagnosed HIV-positive pregnant women
were recruited from pregnancy clinics in two townships in Tshwane, South
Africa. A content analysis of responses showed that women weighed fear
of abandonment and discrimination against their desire to raise risk
awareness and their need for support. Partners most often responded to
disclosure with disbelief and shock, whereas parents frequently
exhibited emotional distress, but were still supportive, as were other
relatives and friends. The women subsequently experienced low levels of
adverse consequences after disclosure. The results can assist
healthcare providers in understanding the complexity of pregnant
women's decisions to disclose to various members of their social
networks and emphasize the need for continued counseling and support.
HIV-positive pregnant women often do not disclose their infected to partners, family or friends, creating potential barriers to preventing sexual transmission to partners and mother-to-child transmission through breastfeeding. A study published in the October 2008 issue of AIDS Care examines recently diagnosed HIV-positive pregnant women and their reasons for disclosure and non-disclosure of seropositive status to various members of their social networks, as well as the consequences of their disclosure. Using a semi-structured interview format, 293 recently diagnosed HIV-positive pregnant women were recruited from pregnancy clinics in two townships in Tshwane, South Africa. A content analysis of responses showed that women weighed fear of abandonment and discrimination against their desire to raise risk awareness and their need for support. Partners most often responded to disclosure with disbelief and shock, whereas parents frequently exhibited emotional distress, but were still supportive, as were other relatives and friends. The women subsequently experienced low levels of adverse consequences after disclosure. The results can assist healthcare providers in understanding the complexity of pregnant women's decisions to disclose to various members of their social networks and emphasize the need for continued counseling and support.
Click here for the abstract.