title: Influence of the home environment on the prevention of mother to child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune-deficiency syndrome in South Africa.
abstract: The human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune-deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is still a 'family crises' which marks the beginning of the deterioration of the family unit and the trauma in the emotional, psychological and material lives of both the mother and child. In South African context where the majority of HIV-positive mothers are young single women who live in extended families, disclosure to the sexual partner alone is not an adequate condition for the success of prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT). In South Africa, close to one in three women who attend antenatal clinics are HIV positive. KwaZulu-Natal is one of the worst affected provinces, where as many as 40-60% of pregnant women attending antenatal services are living with HIV infection. The study sought to investigate the link between the home environment and its contribution to the success of the programme on PMTCT of HIV/AIDS. A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual study was used in this study to explore whether the home environment for the support system is available for the HIV-positive women on the PMTCT programme. The population of this study included all women who have undergone counselling and tested HIV positive and who have joined the programme on PMTCT of HIV/AIDS in a specific hospital in KwaZulu-Natal Province. Although 14 women agreed to participate in the study, only 10 women were interviewed as saturation was attained. Data were collected using semi-structured interview schedule. Interviews were audio-taped and field notes were taken. Content analysis was used and it was done manually. This study revealed that one of the major issues still surrounding HIV/AIDS and PMTCT is that of non-disclosure, selective disclosure and the stigma and discrimination that surrounds this disease.
authors.affiliation: a MA, is affiliated to the Department of Health Studies , University of South Africa , Pretoria , South Africa.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sewnunan
authors.affiliation: b PhD, is affiliated to the Department of Health Studies , University of South Africa , Pretoria , South Africa.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Modiba
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D037001:Directive Counseling; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011295:Prenatal Care; D016730:Program Development; D057545:Social Stigma; D012944:Social Support; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D014342:Truth Disclosure
keywords: Divulgation; Prévention de Transmission de la mère à l'enfant; Soutien; Succès (French); Syndrome Immunodéficitaire Acquis; Transmission Mère à l'enfant du VIH; Virus Immunodéficitaire Human; acquired immune-deficiency syndrome; disclosure; human immunodeficiency virus; mother to child transmission of HIV; prevention of mother to child transmission; success; support