Motherhood and Decision-Making Among Women Living with HIV: A Systematic Review with Qualitative Research Synthesis.

Objective: To explain the reproductive decision-making process of women living with HIV according to their experiences.Design: Systematic review with qualitative research synthesis. Studies were assessed with the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme and the JBI Checklist for Qualitative Research. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO, and the results reported in adherence with the PRISMA statement and the ENTREQ recommendations.Setting: Studies with qualitative data from member countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development were selected to maintain consistency in the conditions of women living with HIV, including socioeconomic, human rights, and access to health services.Participants: Studies published in journals from 1995 to 2019 with qualitative data about reproductive decision-making among women living with HIV were searched in multiple databases, including CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE (through PubMed), Scopus, Social Science Citation Index, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and the Spanish databases Cuidatge, Cuiden Enfispo, and SciELO.Results: From the 4,198 articles identified and assessed, 18 were included for analysis and synthesis with 1,333 participants from 10 countries. Three meta‐categories were constructed from 15 themes that emerged from 45 subthemes to give new meaning to the phenomena of reproductive decision-making for women living with HIV as 1) Shattered identity, 2) Barriers, inequities, and misinformation, and 3) Coping, resiliency, and support.Key Conclusions: Reproductive decision-making is a complex process with multiple challenges that women living with HIV encounter with knowledge deficiencies and limited social support. Decisions need to be taken judiciously by women living with HIV in collaboration with clinicians within the context of a supportive health system. Implications for practice: An integrated approach to care with comprehensive multidisciplinary counseling are needed to support women living with HIV as they engage in reproductive decision-making. Clinicians require professional development as well as evidence-based clinical guidelines and educational resources to support person-centered care for these women, and their families.