HIV testing barriers : pregnant women - a case study

Abstract

There is a high prevalence rate of HIV infected pregnant women in South Africa. The further spread of the virus needs desperately to be curbed. However, the low uptake of pregnant women testing for HIV is a deterrent against preventing the spread of the virus. This study explores the reasons a group of pregnant women hold towards HIV non- testing. Fifteen pregnant women who attended the Mamelodi West clinic, East of Pretoria were interviewed by making use of a semi- structured questionnaire in a face-to- face context by the researcher. All the respondents talked about the notion of the fear of facing death as a reason for their non- testing.