Concerns and experiences of women participating in a short-term AZT intervention feasibility study for prevention of HIV transmission from mother-to-child.
This paper describes the experiences and concerns of women participating in a short-term AZT intervention feasibility study to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission at three sites in India. The study used qualitative methods to examine the experiences of 31 women during late pregnancy, delivery and at post-natal visits. It also elicited the perspectives of 19 healthcare providers. Frequent visits required during late-pregnancy and the post-natal period presented concerns for the women in the study. Women's understanding of the long-term implications of participating in the intervention study was poor, and living with uncertainty about the HIV status of the newborn was a major concern. The provision of psychosocial support is essential in future intervention studies and should be incorporated on an ongoing basis. Networking with women-centred support groups may be helpful in enabling women to gain the long-term benefits of this type of intervention.
Mawar
Nita
N
National AIDS Research Institute (ICMR), Pune, India. nmawar@nariindia.org
Joshi
Pyare L
PL
Sahay
Seema
S
Bagul
Rajani D
RD
Paranjape
Ramesh S
RS
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007229:Infant Welfare; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008429:Maternal Welfare; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D018743:Perinatal Care / Q000379:methods; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D012923:Social Class; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires