Defensive mothering in HIV-positive mothers

The grounded theory study discussed in this article provides an explanatory schema that illuminates the mothering experiences of women living with HIV infection. Eighteen HIV-positive mothers provided 24 in-depth interviews. The grounded theory method was used for data analysis. Defensive mothering was the basic social psychological process that these HIV-positive mothers used in response to their diagnosis and the inherent stigma. Their defensiv e posture afforded these mothers and their children some degree of psycholo gical protection. Defensive mothering involved much mental work and include d three subprocesses: preventing the spread of HIV, preparing the children for a motherless future , and protecting themselves through thought control .