title: "Why are you pregnant? What were you thinking?": How women navigate experiences of HIV-related stigma in medical settings during pregnancy and birth.
abstract: Having children is a growing reality for women living with HIV in Canada. It is imperative to understand and respond to women's unique experiences and psychosocial challenges during pregnancy and as mothers including HIV-related stigma. This qualitative study used a narrative methodological approach to understand women's experiences of HIV-related stigma as they navigate health services in pregnancy (n = 66) and early postpartum (n = 64). Narratives of women living with HIV expose the spaces where stigmatizing practices emerge as women seek perinatal care and support, as well as highlight the relationship between HIV-related stigma and disclosure, and the impact this has on women's pregnancy and birthing experiences.
authors.affiliation: a School of Social Work , McMaster University , Hamilton , Ontario , Canada.
authors.forename: Saara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Greene
authors.affiliation: a School of Social Work , McMaster University , Hamilton , Ontario , Canada.
authors.forename: Allyson
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ion
authors.affiliation: c School of Social Work , McMaster University , Hamilton , Ontario , Canada.
authors.forename: Gladys
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kwaramba
authors.affiliation: c School of Social Work , McMaster University , Hamilton , Ontario , Canada.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: b Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital , University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario , Canada.
authors.forename: Mona R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Loutfy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002170:Canada; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D033262:Narration; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D057545:Social Stigma
keywords: HIV; motherhood; perinatal care; pregnancy; stigma