The Emotional experiences of HIV-positive married women wanting to bear children: An exploratory study

Abstract

Recent literature on childbearing and HIV has indicated a plethora of evidence suggesting that many women living with HIV continue to desire children, become pregnant and give birth after knowing their HIV status. This desire to have children has been associated with the availability of HAART and PMTC interventions and its improvement in the quality of life for HIV-positive women. This study aimed at exploring the emotional experiences of HIV-positive married women wanting to bear children. A qualitative research design was used to explore the above mentioned aim. Through the use of semi-structured interviews a sample of 12 HIV-positive married women were purposefully selected. The participants were chosen from Tshepang clinic at Dr. George Mukhari Hospital situated in the township of Ga-Rankuwa using a purposive sampling design. Semi-structured interviews using interview guide were conducted to explore their unique and subjective emotional experiences of being HIV, married and in need of a child. The process of data analysis in the current study was guided by phenomenological approach in order to allow the inherent meaning of the data to emerge without being distorted. The findings of these study revealed that the experiences surrounding HIV positive diagnosis, marriage and childbearing proves to be associated with overwhelming emotional experiences for women in the current study. Most of the participants in this study viewed motherhood as a unique, subjective and a personal fulfilment for all women irrespective of their HIV status. Participants felt that children stabilise a marriage by giving it meaning. A decision to conceive for some participants is influenced by pressure as a result of their marital, social and situational context