Alice Welbourn: WHO and the rights of women living with HIV
The British Medical Journal - Women’s rights to informed choices about what happens to their bodies are often contested—especially if they are pregnant or have HIV. Yet informed choices about risks and benefits form a critical part of long term prognosis.
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I experienced how devastating an HIV diagnosis feels, despite my access to excellent healthcare. HIV can fill you with trepidation, and being diagnosed during pregnancy, with another life to consider, can be overwhelming. People with other long term conditions, rightly, are offered love and support but this is still rare for women living with HIV. Despite advances in treatment and long term survival, women can fear and experience violence, both at home and in healthcare settings, after diagnosis. This can be a major barrier to treatment access and adherence. Pregnancy alone can provoke violence against women; HIV can exacerbate this, since most women are diagnosed during pregnancy. Thus, pregnant women who are newly diagnosed are juggling their baby’s survival; their own mental, physical, sexual, and reproductive health; potential violence; and the implications of a HIV diagnosis. They need all the support they can get: to maintain their own wellbeing; to transition to motherhood; and to protect their child’s health. From the first meeting, healthcare providers must ensure their rights to confidentiality, respect, support, information, and informed choice about what is best for them and their baby. (Photo: Alice Welbourn/ Daniel Rhis) |