Emotional and disclosure experiences of South African HIV-positive women using prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV services
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Authors
Mbokane, A.N.
Roos, Janetta H.
Ehlers, Valerie
Issue Date
2016
Type
Article
Language
en
Keywords
anti-retroviral medicines (ARVs , condom utilisation , disclosure issues , emotinal turmoil , Human Immune-Deficiency Virus (HIV) , prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT)
Alternative Title
Abstract
Background
When diagnosed HIV-positive women might experience emotional turmoil which could affect their ability to disclose their HIV-positive status to significant others. Unless women manage to disclose their HIV-positive status, their partners/husbands would remain ignorant about this issue and thus unable to provide support to these women. Without their husbands’/partners’ support women are unlikely to use condoms consistently while pregnant and breastfeeding, adhere to their anti-retroviral treatment and implement appropriate infant feeding options. These aspects could have detrimental effects on the women’s lives and increase the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV to their infants.
Method
Structured interviews were conducted with 200 women who had used prevention of mother-to-child services in one province of South Africa.
Findings
Almost all women experienced emotional turmoil when learning about their HIV-positive status and were surprised that they tested HIV-positive. Some women took months before disclosing their HIV-positive status to their husbands/partners and a few never did so.
Conclusions
Pre and post-test counselling remain vitally important to help newly diagnosed HIV-positive persons to cope with their emotional experiences and to assist them to disclose their HIV-positive status to significant others, especially to their husbands/partners. Unless prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV programmes address the interrelated issues of emotional turmoil and disclosure, the outcomes of these programmes might be jeopardised.
Description
Citation
Mbokane, A.N.; Ehlers, V.J. Roos, Janetta H. 2016 Emotional and disclosure experiences of South African HIV-positive women using prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV services ARC Journal of PUblic Health and Community Medicine. ARC Journal of Public Health and Community Medicine Volume 1, Issue 1, 2016, PP 11-17
Publisher
License
©ARC
Journal
Volume
Issue
PubMed ID
DOI
ISSN
2456-0596