The experiences of women diagnosed with HIV during pregnancy at selected Health facilities in Lusaka district, Zambia: a descriptive cross-sectional study

Background: In an effort to prevent vertical transmission of HIV, pregnant women undergo HIV testing and where appropriate, are enrolled into HIV care. Receiving an HIV positive diagnosis can lead to stress and other experiences. Aim: To explore the experiences of women diagnosed HIV positive during pregnancy at selected Health facilities in Lusaka district. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used. In-depth interviews were conducted on 17 purposively selected postpartum women who were diagnosed HIV positive during their recent pregnancy. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. The 6-phase coding framework for thematic analysis was used to identify themes and patterns in the data Major findings: Six main themes emerged: reactions to HIV diagnosis, stress of HIV diagnosis, making the HIV status known, ART adherence, staff behaviour and adjusting to the reality of living with HIV. Most participants reported a mixture of emotions upon receiving the diagnosis, including anger, disappointment, disbelief, shock, turmoil, with others becoming aggressive and contemplating physical harm to themselves and the foetus. Most participants reported being stressed about the diagnosis due to fear of vertical transmission and uncertainty about pregnancy outcome and future. Others reported Intimate Partner Violence upon disclosing to their sexual partners while some reported inconsistent ART adherence. Staff were generally described as being supportive, but some staff gave inadequate explanations, and some were rude. Conclusion: The study recommends empathetic support by Health care providers, to women diagnosed with HIV during pregnancy, together with their significant others as they undergo the reality of living with HIV.