Couple-Focused Interventions for HIV-Serodiscordant Couples During Transition to Motherhood

When HIV is transmitted between spouses or partners it is a major life trauma for both members of the couple. In Portugal, most women become aware of infection during routine prenatal examinations. A significant proportion of these women simultaneously face pregnancy, a deadly disease, and HIV-serodiscordance. In the context of maternity, there is a growing consensus that psychological intervention should address the couple as a unit. Couple-focused HIV interventions reinforce the importance of addressing relational dynamics within dyads, including communication, problem-solving skills, disclosure, and relationship quality issues. Immediate reproductive decisions, the possibility of mother-to-child transmission, and future perspectives impose additional challenges. Two case examples illustrate the application of couple-focused interventions. Also addressed are the specific problems and potentialities of this type of intervention.