The Mentor Mother program trains women to provide health information and conduct home visits to pregnant women and to help the mothers raise healthier children. Credit: Image courtesy of University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Health Sciences
ABSTRACT
The research aims at identifying strategies of coping with AIDS used by mothers of HIV positive children to live better with their children’s disease. The method used was a descriptive qualitative study. Thirty-three structured interviews were conducted with HIV positive women voluntaries and registered as users in the clinic of the public hospital of reference for the treatment of AIDS in Natal/RN. For data analysis, the method used was thematic content analysis. From the analysis, prevalent categories regarding forms of facing AIDS came up, they were: overprotection and fear; donation; hope; religious belief; underestimation of HIV; hiding the diagnosis; and resignation. This study shows that despite AIDS limitations and barriers, relatives develop strategies that make it possible to face every day problems and live better with it.
Descriptors: HIV; acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; HIV seropositivity; mothers; coping behavior