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. 2010 Aug;100(8):1393-9.
doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2009.168989. Epub 2010 Jun 17.

Rethinking HIV/AID disclosure among women within the context of motherhood in South Africa

Juliet Iwelunmor  1 , Nompumelelo Zungu, Collins O Airhihenbuwa
Affiliations

Rethinking HIV/AID disclosure among women within the context of motherhood in South Africa

Juliet Iwelunmor et al. Am J Public Health. 2010 Aug.

Abstract

This qualitative study explored whether motherhood plays a role in influencing decisions to conceal or reveal knowledge of seropositive status among women living with HIV/AIDS in 2 South African communities: Gugulethu and Mitchell's Plain. Using the PEN-3 cultural model, we explored how HIV-positive women disclose their status to their mothers and how HIV-positive mothers make decisions about disclosure of their seropositive status. Our findings revealed 3 themes: the positive consequences of disclosing to mothers, how being a mother influences disclosure (existential role of motherhood), and the cost of disclosing to mothers (negative consequences). The findings highlight the importance of motherhood in shaping decisions to reveal or conceal knowledge of seropositive status. Implications for interventions on HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and support are discussed.

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FIGURE 1
The PEN-3 cultural model.
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