Grant: Doctoral Award - Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarships

Women of childbearing age are the fastest growing group in Canada acquiring the HIV virus. Because of recent medical developments, the risk of transmission from mother to child has been reduced drastically. The reduced risk of transmission speaks to pregnancy being a less risky option for HIV+ women with appropriate medical care and assistance from the health care system (as reproductive aid is necessary to prevent transmission to a partner). HIV+ women have been found to desire to have children at similar rates as HIV-negative women, however their actual pregnancy outcomes have not yet been examined. The current study will examine what proportion of HIV+ women who intend to have children become pregnant over a two-year period, and will compare this group to a matched HIV-negative group of women. The study will also examine HIV stigma, social support, psychological distress and health care barriers as predictors of fertility intentions and pregnancy.