Reproductive rights of HIV-seropositive women: Literature Review

The history of the HIV virus in Brazil has led to the creation of a stigma towards the carriers of the virus, associating them with the idea of sexual promiscuity and the "anti-family" image. Thus, HIV-seropositive women are silenced from their plans regarding motherhood, which is much desired in the female universe, in view of the care plan focused on antiretroviral therapies, the use of condoms and the fight against vertical transmission. Therefore, there is a lack of access to their reproductive rights and to a more subjective care linked to the social exclusion of these women. Therefore, the objective of this study is to analyze the knowledge of HIV-seropositive women about their reproductive rights, in order to verify the preconceptional reality faced by them. This is a literature review study of the narrative type. This review was performed using the SciELO and PubMed databases as primary search sources, with articles published from 2002 to 2022, using the descriptors "HIV and maternity", "reproductive rights and HIV". For data analysis, themes related to the reproductive rights of HIV-seropositive women were identified. Thus, the results show that in the last 2 years there has been an increase in HIV infections in women of reproductive age, showing the need for action by health professionals focused on clarifying their reproductive rights. In addition, the advancement of prophylaxis measures, through the use of antiretroviral therapy during prenatal care, delivery and administration to the newborn, cesarean section and restriction of breastfeeding through breast milk, have increased the range of reproductive decisions of these women. However, the fear of prejudice, the possibility of exposure of the child, added to the neglect of the institutions resulting from the lack of reproductive planning during the routine follow-up of seropositive women, determine the withdrawal from maternity.