[Psychosocial issues in HIV positive women during the perinatal period]

Abstract

Objective: To study the feelings of HIV infected mothers during the perinatal period regarding circumstances of HIV diagnosis, disclosure to partner and fear of contamination.

Population and methods: A study based upon personal interviews was carried out from November 2003 to January 2004 upon routine pediatric outpatient visits for infants born to HIV positive mothers.

Results: This study included 54 women of which 70% were from Sub-Saharan Africa. Fifty-nine per cent discovered their HIV status during a pregnancy. Seventy-seven per cent of partners were informed of maternal status. Among the women reluctant to inform their partner, the main reasons given were fear of violence and separation. Seventy-two per cent of interviewed women refused their spouses to be informed by the medical staff. Medical care during pregnancy (moral support, delivery) was judged as good by a majority of women (90%) who found the behavior of the staff mostly satisfactory. Final child serology remains the most definitive test for mothers, 47% of whom fear the risk of a potential postnatal contamination of their children.

Conclusion: In these isolated women, many of whom have recently discovered their HIV status, a multidisciplinary approach including psychosocial support is essential.