Gynecology & Obstetrics
Open Access
ISSN: 2161-0932
ISSN: 2161-0932
F Constance Malindi
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Gynecol Obstet (Sunnyvale)
Background: Pregnant women living with HIV/AIDS experience fear in related to their deteriorating health and own death. Due to stigma attached to HIV/AIDS pregnant women often go through sickness until at its advanced stage before seeking medical attention thus putting their lives and those of their unborn babies at risk of death. Purpose: The study seeks to explore and describe experiences of pregnant women who are living with HIV/AIDS regarding fear at the Vhembe District of Limpopo Province. Method: The study was qualitative, explorative, descriptive, phenomenological, and contextual in nature. A purposive sampling method was used. Data were collected through in-depth individual interviews, guided by unstructured questions. Tesch�s eight steps of qualitative data analysis were used. Measures to ensure trustworthiness and ethical issues were observed. Results: The results of the study revealed that pregnant women who are living with HIV/AIDS were experiencing fear related to being pregnant and living with HIV/AIDS. Implications: Recommendations in relation to the experiences of pregnant women living with HIV/AIDS, nursing practice, society, policymakers and research were thus made.
F Constance Malindi has completed her Magister Curationis (MCUR) from the University of Venda, South Africa in December 2012. She is a clinical nurse practitioner at the local Community Health Centre and a PhD student at the University of Venda in South Africa. She published 2 papers in reputed journals on maternal health issues. My interest is in maternal and child care with the focus on Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT).