Psychological phases of pregnant women with HIV: A qualitative study in a hospital

Abstract

There has been a paradigm shift regarding the prognosis of Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection, changing it from death to a chronic condition, but the infection still implies a review of the life of women who are living with this virus. The objective of this article is to present the psychological phases which pregnant women go through after knowing about their infection. A clinical-qualitative study was carried out, applying individual interviews, with an intentional sample, using the theoretical saturation criterion. Three evolutionary psychological phases emerged from the analysis: Emotional confusion; existential doubt; functional ambiguity. The news of the presence of the virus brings intense emotions triggering defense mechanisms, especially, against the strong fear of vertical transmission. It is, thus, fundamental for health teams to broaden the understanding of this experience so significant for pregnant women and their families.