Pregnant women's experience of being seropositive for HIV/AIDS: prejudice, pain, trauma and suffering at the discovery/A experiencia da soropositividade para gravidas com HIV/AIDS: preconceito, dor, trauma e sofrimento pela descoberta/La experiencia de la embarazada seropositiva para el VIH / SIDA: prejuicio, dolor, trauma y sufrimiento al tomar conocimiento

• Published in: Revista enfermagem UERJ Vol. 23; no. 3; p. 362
• Main Authors: Medeiros, Ana Paula Dantas Silva, Araujo, Verbena Santos, de Moraes, Marina Nascimento, de Almeida, Sandra Aparecida, de Almeida, Jordana Nogueira, Dias, Maria Djair
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro- Uerj 01-05-2015
• ISSN: 0104-3552
• DOI: 10.12957/reuerj.2015.17918

This qualitative study, which aimed to learn the life experiences of pregnant and postpartum women following their discovering themselves seropositive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), was conducted at the Lauro Wanderley University Hospital in Joao Pessoa, Paraiba. The empirical data were obtained from interviews of twelve study participants, from July to September 2012, using the Testimonial Oral History approach, and were discussed through interpretive thematic analysis. As a result, it was observed that the women surveyed expressed conflicting feelings, such as life and death, joy and sorrow, fear and uncertainty. It was concluded that this study is of great importance, because it brings out the life experiences of pregnant women and mothers who are seropositive for HIV/ AIDS, with a view to fostering discussion of ways these women cope after discovering the disease.