Abstract

*Calie V. Botha, Chris John Westhuizen and Fourie Findlay

In Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN), one of the worst affected provinces as many as 40 to 60 % of pregnant women attending antenatal services is living with HIV infection. A qualitative, study was used in this study to explore the home environment for the support system available for the HIV positive women on the PMTCT program. The population of this study included all women who have been counselled and tested HIV positive and who have joined on Prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS. A total of ten women were interviewed as saturation was attained. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and tape recording used and interviews were transcribed verbatim. Data analysis: Content analysis was used and it was done manually. Four themes emerged from this study were: emotional and psychological trauma; barriers that prevented disclosure of status; financial challenges experienced by the participants and perceptions of social support received. This study revealed that non disclosure, selective disclosure stigma and discrimination surround this disease.