Pregnancy in young people born with HIV: particularities in the contexts of exercising sexuality

Abstract

The study aimed to understand how young women born with HIV deal with the exercise of their sexualities and the occurrence of pregnancy during their life trajectories. It is a qualitative research, inspired by the Social Constructionist approach to health and the Vulnerability/Human Rights Framework. The 10 participants became pregnant in adolescence and youth (14-21 years old) and were interviewed between 2017 and 2018, in a specialized service in Brazil. Two distinct life trajectory profiles were evidenced: unexpected pregnancy at the beginning of the adolescent’s sexual life; desired pregnancy in transition to adulthood. It is concluded that the processes and social markers, which increase the vulnerability to unplanned pregnancy, are common to adolescents in general, however they have particularities by the stigma of HIV, and it is necessary to incorporate sexual and reproductive rights in continuous care for HIV.