Decisions to Have a Baby by HIV-Infected Women

Abstract

As the epidemiologic picture of HIV changes to include increased numbers of women of childbearing age, particularly those of African American heritage and those from rural southern cultures, those who provide services to these women need to understand the processes used by HIV-infected women to make reproductive decisions. Focus-group data with subsequent content analysis were used to discover themes surrounding pregnancy decisions among 22 women in two predominantly rural southeastern states. The results both validated and amplified previous findings and added new perspectives. The analyses revealed six overarching themes: spiritual and religious beliefs, knowledge and beliefs about HIV, previous experience with childbearing attitudes of families and sex partners, personal health, and intrapersonal motivation to have a baby.

A Systematic Review of Factors Influencing Fertility Desires and Intentions Among People Living with HIV/AIDS: Implications for Policy and Service Delivery

“…Furthermore, not all fertility decisions were influenced by spouses, family and society (Craft et al 2007). Focus group attendees from the states of Georgia and South Carolina in southern USA indicated that many of them were single, were not in any permanent relationship and that the decision to have children was theirs alone (Sowell and Misener 1997). These were mainly AfricanAmerican women who reported that their sexual partners did not necessarily have rights to influence their reproductive decision-making.…”

Desire for Pregnancy and Risk Behavior in Young HIV-Positive Women

“…For example, studies have demonstrated positive relationships between pregnancy and self-efficacy, 7,38 psychological adjustment, 5,39 and increased self-esteem. 7,12,17,38,40 Health care provider recognition of the salience of DFP in the lives of young HIVpositive women is necessary for adequate counseling to occur.…”

“…[5][6][7] Despite possible risks associated with pregnancy outcomes, 8 the percentage of HIV-positive women in the United States desiring children in the future is only slightly less than that of the general female population, approximately 29% versus 36%. their prime reproductive years when diagnosed 2 and may not exhibit symptoms of disease or, alternatively, are on medications which control symptoms.…”

“…6,[9][10][11][12][13][14] Previous pregnancies and abortions are associated with pregnancy 6,14 and a lower number of current children has been found to be positively associated with a woman's desire for future pregnancies. 6,9,12 In addition, concern about the risk of vertical transmission and the health of the future child, 5 as well as the outcomes of previous pregnancies while HIV positive 13 have also been shown to be important factors in pregnancy-related decision-making. While some studies have shown no significant association between DFP and sociodemographic variables, [9][10][11] others have found significant relationships between DFP and age, ethnicity, education level, gender role, living situation, coping style, perceived threat of HIV, HIV symptomatology, and partner status.…”

Projets parentaux des femmes vivant avec le VIH/sida à l'ère des thérapies antirétrovirales

“…Les femmes qui n'étaient pas encore mères avaient un désir d'enfant plus important que les femmes ayant des d'enfants. Cela est peutêtre à rapprocher des normes sociales dominantes qui veulent que la reproduction (ou la maternité) fasse partie intégrante de la vie des femmes [8].…”