The Lived Experiences of Pregnancy in Women with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): A Phenomenological Study

Introduction: Pregnancy is a challenging period for any woman; it is a more sensitive and challenging time for women living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV-infected women are facing a sense of stigma, discrimination, and social exclusion during pregnancy. However, little is known about the experience of pregnancy in HIV-positive women. The present study aimed to explore the lived experiences in HIV-positive pregnant women. Method: This was a qualitative study with hermeneutic phenomenological approach. 12 HIV-infected pregnant women who referred to counseling center for behavioral diseases in Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran, Iran, in 2014, were recruited through purposive sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, and the richness of data was achieved after 16 interviews during 40 to 90 minutes with participants. The data were analyzed using Diekelmann method. Results: Participants were between 22-39 years of age. After data analysis, the main theme (renewal of stigma) and 2 subthemes (blame and rejection) emerged. Conclusion: Although the experience of pregnancy in HIV-positive women was associated with renewal of stigma, pregnancy provides for blame and rejection. The findings of this study emphasize on the necessity of integrating training and education programs to reduce the stigma of HIV and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Keywords: Social stigma, Pregnancy, HIV-positive, Women, Qualitative researc