HIV/Aids and maternity care in Kenya

How fears of stigma and discrimination affect uptake and provision of labor and delivery services

Bibliographic Data

ID19442870
AuthorsJanet M Turan (0000-0002-7802-6206, University of California, San Francisco, corresponding author), Suellen Miller (0000-0002-6949-1982, University of California, San Francisco), Elizabeth A Bukusi (0000-0002-2031-2808, Kenya Medical Research Institute), J Sande (d Kisumu City Council , Kisumu , Kenya), Craig R Cohen (0000-0001-8654-6634, University of California, San Francisco)
Year2008
Volume20
Issue8
Pages938-945
Publication date2008-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAIDS Care (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0954-0121 • E-ISSN: 1360-0451
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/09540120701767224
PMID18777222
OpenAlexW2015191346
LanguageEN
Citations received48
References cited15

Although policies and programs exist to promote safe motherhood in sub-Saharan Africa, maternal health has not improved and may be deteriorating in some countries. Part of the explanation may be the adverse effects of HIV/AIDS on maternity care. We conducted a study in Kisumu, Kenya to explore how fears related to HIV/AIDS affect women's uptake and health workers' provision of labor and delivery services. In-depth qualitative interviews with 17 maternity workers, 14 pregnant or postpartum women, four male partners and two traditional birth attendants; as well as structured observations of 22 births; were conducted at four health facilities. Participants reported that fears of HIV testing; fears of involuntary disclosure of HIV status to others, including spouses; and HIV/AIDS stigma are among the reasons that women avoid delivering in health facilities. Maternity workers now have to take into account the HIV status of the women they serve (as well as their own fears of becoming infected and stigmatized) but do not seem to be adequately prepared to handle issues related to consent, confidentiality and disclosure. Importantly, it appeared that women of unknown HIV status during labor and delivery were likely to be targets of stigma and discriminatory practices and that these women were not receiving needed counseling services. The findings suggest that increasing infection control precautions will not be enough to address the challenges faced by maternity care providers in caring for women in high-HIV-prevalence settings. Maternity workers need enhanced culturally sensitive training regarding consent, confidentiality and disclosure. Furthermore, this study points to the necessity of paying more attention to the care of women of unknown HIV-serostatus during labor and delivery. Such interventions may improve the quality of maternity care, increase utilization and contribute to overall improvements in maternal health, while also enhancing prevention of mother-to-child-transmission and HIV care

Alternative medicine · Confidentiality · Developing country · Economic growth · Family medicine · Health care · Informed consent · Maternity care · Political science · Psychiatry · Qualitative research · Social stigma · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Global Maternal and Child Health · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology