title: 'Every pregnant woman needs a midwife'--the experiences of HIV affected women in maternity care.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  'Every pregnant woman needs a midwife'-the experiences of HIV affected women in Northern Ireland.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  to explore HIV positive women's experiences of pregnancy and maternity care, with a focus on their interactions with midwives.
  
  
  METHODS
  a prospective qualitative study.
  
  
  METHODS
  regional HIV unit in Northern Ireland.
  
  
  METHODS
  22 interviews were conducted with 10 women at different stages of their reproductive trajectories.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the pervasive presence of HIV related stigma threatened the women's experience of pregnancy and care. The key staff attributes that facilitated a positive experience were knowledge and experience, empathy and understanding of their unique needs and continuity of care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  pregnancy in the context of HIV, whilst offering a much needed sense of normality, also increases woman's sense of anxiety and vulnerability and therefore the need for supportive interventions that affirm normality is intensified. A maternity team approach, with a focus on providing 'balanced care' could meet all of the woman and child's medical needs, whilst also emphasising the normalcy of pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust, Downe Hospital, 2 Struell Wells Road, Downpatrick, UK. carmel.kelly@setrust.hscni.net
authors.forename: Carmel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alderdice
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lohan
authors.forename: Dale
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Spence
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D056348:Emotional Intelligence; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000379:methods; D009721:Nurse Midwives / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research