Brazilian mothers with HIV: Experiences with diagnosis and treatment in a human rights based health care system

Drawing on in-depth interviews with a group of urban poor HIV-positive mothers in Northeastern Brazil, this essay examines their experiences with HIV medical diagnosis and treatment. It argues that strong social and religious networks as well as the Universal HIV treatment program provide Northeastern Brazilian mothers with forms of support that may be absent in other countries. It further suggests that more research be done to determine how particular forms of health care, such as the human rights-based approach that Brazil has taken to HIV/AIDS, inform patient-provider relationships.