Relational, Emotional, and Sexual Vulnerabilities of Women Living with HIV Receiving PMTCT Care at the Military Teaching Hospital-University Hospital Center (HIA-CHU) of Parakou, 2025

Introduction: Women living with HIV who are enrolled in Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) programs face relational, emotional, and sexual vulnerabilities that remain poorly documented. These vulnerabilities influence their well-being, sexual lives, and reproductive plans. Study Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study using a mixed-methods approach was conducted between 2024 and 2025 among women living with HIV receiving PMTCT care at the Military Teaching Hospital-University Hospital Center (HIA-CHU) of Parakou. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with 32 participants recruited exhaustively. Quantitative analyses were performed using STATA version 15, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically using NVivo. Ethical principles and informed consent were strictly respected throughout the research process. Results: The participants had a median age of 32 years and were predominantly married and educated. A decrease in libido during pregnancy was reported by 71.9% of participants, particularly during the third trimester, with infrequent sexual intercourse. In the postpartum period, 75% resumed sexual activity within an average period of five months. HIV affected marital relationships in 65.6% of cases, characterized by frequent non-disclosure of HIV status and emotional distancing. Fear of transmission generated anxiety, guilt, and reduced sexual desire, despite PMTCT follow-up being generally perceived as not having a negative impact and a persistent desire for motherhood among women. Conclusion: These findings highlight the need to integrate strengthened psychosocial support into PMTCT services in order to improve women’s quality of life.