Delivery
Gaps in Research
- 1.
- Efforts are needed to ensure HIV-positive women have information on birthing options and the right to make choices based on that information.
- 2.
- Interventions are needed to ensure that stigma from health care workers does not discourage HIV-positive women from giving birth in safer settings.
- 3.
- Efforts are needed to ensure that health care workers protect the confidentiality of HIV-positive women’s serostatus.
- 4.
- Interventions are needed to provide HIV testing and counseling during labor and delivery that respects informed consent.
- 5.
- Health care providers must have access to gowns, gloves, needle-less systems and eye protection to decrease the risk of occupational exposure to HIV.
1. Efforts are needed to ensure HIV-positive women have information on birthing options and the right to make choices based on that information. Studies found that HIV-positive women were not given information on birthing options.
Gap noted, for example, in Ukraine and Brazil (Yaremenko et al., 2004).
2. Interventions are needed to ensure that stigma from health care workers does not discourage HIV-positive women from giving birth in safer settings. [See also Reducing Stigma and Discrimination] Studies found that HIV-positive women experienced discrimination by providers in ANC services or did not attend ANC services due to fear of mistreatment by health providers.
Gap noted, for example, in Uganda (Were and Hasunira, 2010); Thailand (Teeraratkul et al., 2005); Cote d’Ivoire (Painter et al., 2004) and Vietnam (Hong et al., 2004).
3. Efforts are needed to ensure that health care workers protect the confidentiality of HIV-positive women’s serostatus. A study found that health workers violated women’s confidentiality.
Gap noted, for example, in Ukraine (Yaremenko et al., 2004).
4. Interventions are needed to provide HIV testing and counseling during labor and delivery that respects informed consent. [See HIV Testing and Counseling for Women and Antenatal Care - Testing and Counseling]