Reproductive Decision Making of Spanish Women Living with HIV: A Constructivist Grounded Theory Study

Abstract

The process of reproductive decision making among women living with HIV is intricate and multifaceted, influenced by health considerations, societal factors, and personal values. In this study, we employed Charmaz's Constructivist Grounded Theory to understand how Spanish women living with HIV make decisions regarding reproduction. We conducted 26 face-to-face interviews until data saturation was achieved. Findings suggested that social constructs such as femininity and motherhood play a significant role in the reproductive decision-making process for women living with HIV. The women's beliefs about HIV, doubts, marginalizing situations, and health barriers create challenges to making reproductive decisions. These findings provide valuable implications for designing care plans that meet the unique sexual and reproductive health needs of women with HIV. An integrated and comprehensive multidisciplinary counseling approach is necessary to improve the quality of care.