The Maternal Role Experiences of HIV Positive Mothers Participating in Mother-to-Child Transmission Prevention Project at Krathumbaen Hospital in Samut Sakorn Province

Abstract

          This exploratory descriptive research was designed to describe the maternal role experiences of HIV positive mothers. The researcher employed qualitative methods consisting of in-depth interviewing, and observing among 10 key informants. All of them were HIV infected mothers, who participated in Preventing Mother To Child Transmission and Care (PMTCT) Project at Krathumbaen Hospital in Samut Sakorn Province. The data were collected by utilizing the open ended questions interview guidelines that were adapted from Maternal Role Attainment Model (Mercer, 1981). Content analysis was performed by integrating the data in order to produce the summarized findings.

          The findings of this study indicated that the main points of the maternal role experiences of HIV positive mothers were as follows: 1) Women were burdened from multiple roles including: careful child-rearing while having HIV infection among themselves, and risk of infection in their child, responsibility for maternal role, feeding their child, housekeeper's role, caring for sick family members, and also the wife role toward sexual relationship. 2) The first phase of reaction when receiving information about blood examination were fear, shock and rejection. But later, the reactions were acceptance, encouragement and having not offended. 3) Women's decision making: to continue the pregnancy and labor, closure and unclosure of blood examination, and leading life for the future especially for their child. 4) Women got the turning point in their life since applying for PMTCT project members. They got many experiences about taking care for their health. 5) The sources of contributing factors:  empowering from families, friends, health care providers and the  HIV groups; the supporting information and gaining profits from universal coverage for health. Finally, 6) Feminist issues: the sense of love, women's patience from abuse or violence and "the masculine" in the view of HIV infected women.

          The researcher provided recommendations both for nursing management and nursing practice to improve health care services for this vulnerable group, and for providing accessibility of service and continuity care efficiently.