title: The Lived Experience of Pregnancy Among HIV-Positive Refugee Women: A Qualitative Study.
abstract: Increasingly HIV-positive refugee women are becoming pregnant. The objective of this qualitative study was to describe and explore the meaning and experience of pregnancy from the perspective of HIV-positive refugee women. The phenomenological analysis revealed 4 core themes. "Making up stories" for privacy and protection emerged as the first theme. The second theme illuminates 2 types of isolation: a double isolation based on refugee and HIV statuses, and isolation endured throughout the pregnancy. Being-in-Between describes the third theme. Finally, the fourth theme sheds light on the experience of disconnection: from baby, culture, body/self, and health care providers.
authors.affiliation: Sandy Hill Community Health Center (Dr Chulach) and School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa (Drs Gagnon and Holmes), Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chulach
authors.forename: Marilou
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gagnon
authors.forename: Dave
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Holmes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology*; D057545:Social Stigma