Marcos Augusto Moraes Arcoverde

Sentimentos e expectativas da gestante vivendo com HIV: um estudo fenomenológico

AIDS is a chronic disease increasing dramatically among the female population, especially amongst those women in their reproductive years, which can be seen in the increase of mother-to-child transmission of HIV cases. The objective of this research was to identify the feelings and expectations of such pregnant women about the disease and pregnancy from a phenomenological perspective. Five pregnant women living in Foz do Iguacu, Brazil and being monitored at the HIV/AIDS Specialized Service were selected as study subjects. Their accounts were collected through semi-structured interviews, which were recorded by digital media. Two Thematic Units were identified after the transcription and analysis of the discourses, namely, “The reality of prejudice, discrimination and stigmatization against pregnant women living with HIV” and “Emergent hope and expectations in a HIV pregnancy”. Despite prejudice, the pregnant women participating in the study had not lost hope neither in the treatment nor in the future. Several forms of expressing their problems were observed and the acceptance of being pregnant made them feel strong enough to face the situation.