Creating an eLearning Resource to Improve Knowledge and Understanding of Pregnancy in the Context of HIV Infection

Abstract

Patient narratives have much to teach healthcare professionals about the experience of living with a chronic condition. While the biomedical narrative of HIV treatment is hugely encouraging, the narrative of living with HIV continues to be overshadowed by a persuasive perception of stigma. This paper presents how we sought to translate the evidence from a qualitative study of the perspectives of HIV affected pregnant women and expectant fathers on the care they received, from the pre conception to post natal period, into educational material for maternity care practice. Narrative scripts were written based on the original research interviews, with care taken to reflect the key themes from the research. We explore the way in which the qualitative findings bring to life patient and partner experiences and what it means for nurses, midwives and doctors to be prepared to care for couples affected by HIV. In so doing, we challenge the inequity between the dominance of biomedical knowledge over understanding the patient experience in the preparation of health professionals to care for HIV affected women and men who are having a baby or seeking to have a baby.

Motherhood and decision-making among women living with HIV in developed countries: a systematic review with qualitative research synthesis

“…Motherhood was one of the most important social identities for women. WLH felt recognized by their community when had a child [ 104 , 105 ] because motherhood is a cultural norm. The phenomenon was therefore culturally constructed [ 8 , 104 , 106 ] “I just want one.…”

“…WLH generally felt clinicians were not supportive, reporting HIV-related stigma [ 19 , 61 , 101 , 102 , 106 , 109 , 110 ]. The WLH felt their physicians were not helpful and explained they tried to discourage them from pregnancy due to their HIV positive status [ 105 , 110 ]. “My doctor was really insensitive […].…”

“…The physicians never asked about their desire to have children [ 105 ]. As a result they felt repressed, as their right to decide was coerced [ 107 , 109 ].…”

“…WLH wanted more information about contraception methods and approaches to safe sex. They wanted to learn about their disease, including more discussions with clinicians; something they were unable to find in the health system [ 61 , 105 , 107 , 111 ]. “I look for things that are safe 100%.…”

“…WLH commonly believed they cannot be mothers. They had the wrong beliefs about the impact of HIV on their ability to become pregnant [ 99 , 105 , 106 ]. "Like most women, I always wanted to have a baby, but thought it wasn’t an option anymore when I was diagnosed with HIV."…”