[Psychosocial issues in HIV positive women during the perinatal period]

To study the feelings of HIV infected mothers during the perinatal period regarding circumstances of HIV diagnosis, disclosure to partner and fear of contamination.

A study based upon personal interviews was carried out from November 2003 to January 2004 upon routine pediatric outpatient visits for infants born to HIV positive mothers.

This study included 54 women of which 70% were from Sub-Saharan Africa. Fifty-nine per cent discovered their HIV status during a pregnancy. Seventy-seven per cent of partners were informed of maternal status. Among the women reluctant to inform their partner, the main reasons given were fear of violence and separation. Seventy-two per cent of interviewed women refused their spouses to be informed by the medical staff. Medical care during pregnancy (moral support, delivery) was judged as good by a majority of women (90%) who found the behavior of the staff mostly satisfactory. Final child serology remains the most definitive test for mothers, 47% of whom fear the risk of a potential postnatal contamination of their children.

In these isolated women, many of whom have recently discovered their HIV status, a multidisciplinary approach including psychosocial support is essential.