title: Rethinking HIV/AID disclosure among women within the context of motherhood in South Africa.
abstract: This qualitative study explored whether motherhood plays a role in influencing decisions to conceal or reveal knowledge of seropositive status among women living with HIV/AIDS in 2 South African communities: Gugulethu and Mitchell's Plain. Using the PEN-3 cultural model, we explored how HIV-positive women disclose their status to their mothers and how HIV-positive mothers make decisions about disclosure of their seropositive status. Our findings revealed 3 themes: the positive consequences of disclosing to mothers, how being a mother influences disclosure (existential role of motherhood), and the cost of disclosing to mothers (negative consequences). The findings highlight the importance of motherhood in shaping decisions to reveal or conceal knowledge of seropositive status. Implications for interventions on HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and support are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 16802, USA. jia111@psu.edu
authors.forename: Juliet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Iwelunmor
authors.forename: Nompumelelo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zungu
authors.forename: Collins O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Airhihenbuwa
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D003657:Decision Making; D005086:Existentialism / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D005783:Gender Identity; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009034:Mother-Child Relations / Q000208:ethnology*; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012933:Social Identification; D012944:Social Support; D013019:South Africa; D013240:Stereotyping; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*