Life in the Shadows: Examining the Role that HIV Status Plays in the Decision Making Processes of HIV Positive Aboriginal Women in Terms of Their Reproductive Health and Their Decisions to Have a Child or Not

Thurston, Wilfreda EnidNash, Tina Marie Lynn2016-11-022016-11-0220162016Nash, T. M. (2016). Life in the Shadows: Examining the Role that HIV Status Plays in the Decision Making Processes of HIV Positive Aboriginal Women in Terms of Their Reproductive Health and Their Decisions to Have a Child or Not (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/26760http://hdl.handle.net/11023/3445This thesis represents a qualitative research study involving three urban dwelling, HIV positive Aboriginal women. It highlights the factors that participants describe as being influential in their decision to have a child or not, given positive HIV status. In depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants and descriptive construction of emerging themes and categories were developed to explain the results. Key factors that were found to influence participant’s decisions to have a child or not were: intention; fertility options; stigma; fear; social support; personal health status; spirituality; and cultural safety. This study also found that an analysis of the role HIV status plays in the decision making processes of HIV positive Aboriginal women with regards to whether or not to have a child must take into account how colonization, systematic discrimination, racism, early childhood and adolescent experiences, poverty, addictions, homelessness, co-morbidity of illness and culture intersect to influence their decisions.engUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.Education--HealthAnthropology--CulturalNative American StudiesEthnic and Racial StudiesWomenÕs StudiesObstetrics and GynecologyPublic HealthAboriginalHIVPregnancyReproductiveChild bearingDecisionLife in the Shadows: Examining the Role that HIV Status Plays in the Decision Making Processes of HIV Positive Aboriginal Women in Terms of Their Reproductive Health and Their Decisions to Have a Child or Notmaster thesis10.11575/PRISM/26760