HIV-Positive and Pregnant: A Qualitative Study on the Perspectives of Newly Diagnosed Mothers on Diagnosis and HIV Therapy

An HIV diagnosis during pregnancy can be upsetting for pregnant women, conflicting with their wish for a healthy pregnancy and child. The psychological toll of an HIV diagnosis may worsen mental health issues, which emphasises the necessity of all-encompassing support networks. ART default is caused by an inefficient health system, including lengthy wait times, poor ARV counselling, inadequate consultation spaces, intermittent ARV stockouts, and dissatisfaction with the care obtained. An exploratory-descriptive and contextual qualitative design was followed, and data were collected using semi-structured, in-person interviews until data saturation. A total of twenty (20) women aged between 18 and 47 who were purposefully sampled participated in the study which took place at a clinic in the Thembisile-Hani local Municipality of Mpumalanga province, South Africa. Results revealed 4 themes, namely: lack of privacy and confidentiality, inadequate counselling, and mental health support, fear and trauma associated with HIV diagnosis and challenges with treatment adherence. Despite advancements in HIV management, patients may find it challenging to adhere to ARV therapy if communication and privacy concerns are disregarded. It remains important to consider the effects of stigma, poor communication and a lack of privacy on treatment adherence and the ability to meet the HIV cascade successfully.