Discussing parenthood with gay men diagnosed with HIV: a qualitative study of patient and healthcare practitioner perspectives.

Authors
Anderson, Jane 
Burns, Fiona 
Yarrow, Elizabeth 
Barber, Tristan J 

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Research on HIV and reproduction has focused largely on women and heterosexual men. This article examines whether it is relevant to address parenthood in HIV care with gay men and what ways of doing so are most appropriate. METHODS: Qualitative interviews were conducted at four London clinics with 25 men living with HIV, aged 20-45, who did not have children, and 16 HIV clinicians. A thematic analysis identified potential reasons why parenthood was rarely discussed with gay men in HIV care. RESULTS: Two sets of ideas contributed to a lack of conversations about parenthood: clinicians' ideas about what matters to gay men and men's ideas about what it means to be HIV-positive. Both sets of ideas largely excluded having children, with patients and practitioners similarly unlikely to raise the topic of parenthood in the clinic. Contrary to what clinician commonly assumed, many men expressed interest in receiving more information, highlighting the importance of reassuring people upon diagnosis that it is possible to become parents while living with HIV. CONCLUSIONS: Parenting desires and intentions were rarely discussed with men in HIV care. Our findings illuminate the potentially beneficial effects of emphasising that having children is a possibility at diagnosis, regardless of patients' gender or sexuality. Conveying this information seems meaningful, not only to men who want to become parents in the future but also to others, as it appears to alleviate fears about mortality and ill health.

Publication Date
2021-12-19
Online Publication Date
2021-12-19
Acceptance Date
2021-11-22
Keywords
Research Article, Gay men, HIV diagnosis, Patient–provider communication, Reproductive health, Sexual health
Journal Title
BMC Public Health
Journal ISSN
1471-2458
1471-2458
Volume Title
21
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Sponsorship
Wellcome Trust (100606/Z/12/Z)
British HIV Association (BHIVA)
Isaac Newton Trust (18.08(m))
Leverhulme Trust (ECF-2018-146)
British HIV Association Isaac Newton Trust Leverhulme Trust (ECF-2018-146) Wellcome Trust (100606/Z/12/Z)