Abstract
M.Cur. (Midwifery and Neonatal Nursing Care)
Free voluntary counselling and testing (VeT) for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) by
the international community and many African states is the entry point into HIV and
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) prevention, care, treatment and support. It is therefore worrisome that despite the Botswana government' multiple HIV preventative
strategies, of the 56% Batswana who tested for HIV in 2008, only 34% know their status (National AIDS Coordinating Agency, Central Statistics Office & Ministry of Health,
2009:4). Among those who were tested, women outnumbered men, but even these women only had their HIV-status tested when they were already pregnant or when one of their children was suspected to have contracted AIDS, an observation that Hamblin and Reid (1991:4) has made years ago. Ethical standards were followed to conduct a study, the purpose of which was to explore and describe the reasons why women in Gaborone only volunteered to go for vcr of HIV when they were already pregnant, instead ofdoing so before they conceived. An exploratory, descriptive, qualitative and contextual design was used. Participants who met the sampling criteria were interviewed and data was audio-taped before transcription and analysis. An independent coder was involved to confirm the themes and sub-themes before
relevant literature was searched. Strategies of trustworthiness were adhered to in the study (Lincoln & Guba, 1985:289-331). Findings revealed that the most significant reason for participants not testing for HIV prior to pregnancy was fear of consequences of an HIV-positive result, such as stigma and discrimination against them by their partners, families and communities should they test HIV-positive, Another reason was the socio-cultural beliefs, norms and values expressed in different forms. However, once they fell pregnant, they had themselves tested because their fear of losing their babies to HIV overruled their fear ofbeing ostracised by anybody else. Based on the findings, guidelines were formulated to assist midwives and HIV and AIDS
counsellors to facilitate uptake of vcr of HIV prior to pregnancy among childbearing
women and men from as young as +-15 years. Conclusions were drawn and
recommendations made concerning midwifery practice, education and possible further
research on this topic on a larger scale.