HIV Infected Mothers Having Babies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

HIV Infected Mothers Having Babies - Essay Example Because more women are infected with HIV, there is dilemma for public servants in helping HIV positive mothers have babies. Some believe HIV positive women should not have babies at all. Others would rather not see babies Born to HIV mothers become infected, but realize that as human beings those women wish to have normal family lives as others do. For some women, the idea of having a baby with a positive HIV status is unthinkable. They would not want to take the risk of transmitting the virus to the baby. They also may fear that spouses or other family members would not want to care for an HIV positive baby after the mother’s death. Other women believe having a baby where there is a high risk of birth defects is ok, but not having a baby that might get the HIV virus. Personal views stem from socially acceptable norms that accept babies with birth defects more than those with HIV. Other women believe that regardless of the risks, they have a right to bear children and have a f amily just as much as the next woman. Women in the United States are not prohibited from having babies when they are HIV positive. Interestingly, in Botswana some officials discourage women with HIV from having babies â€Å"claiming that they are not fit to take care of a child or that they will automatically transmit the virus to the infant† (Doyle). Women are often shunned by locals who know they have the virus, when they decide to have children. This is surprising as infants are more likely to die in their first year of life due to unsanitary water and poor nutrition.