HIV-positive pregnant women: discovering you are HIV-positive during pre-natal care

Abstract

This is a qualitative research in the Juiz de Fora Specialized Care Service, in the State of Minas Gerais. The objective was to understand the feelings of women when they find out they are HIV-positive during pregnancy. We found that this made women feel despair, the fear of death, physical disfigurement, discrimination, prejudice, as well as concern for their children. In order to face up to the disease in their daily life they quoted: religious faith, support from the family and help groups, treatment with medicine, preventive behavior and leisure activities.