HIV-related Stigma as a Barrier to Achievement of Global PMTCT and Maternal Health Goals: A Review of the Evidence

A new literature review published in the journal AIDS and Behavior finds that concerns about HIV-related stigma can discourage pregnant women in low-income settings from seeking services for their own health and to prevent mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. These findings highlight a serious challenge to international goals to virtually eliminate mother-to-child HIV transmission and reduce HIV-related maternal mortality by 50 percent by 2015.