{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,22]],"date-time":"2026-07-22T08:04:27Z","timestamp":1784707467952,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":35,"publisher":"AOSIS","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,23]],"date-time":"2026-07-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1784764800000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Despite advances in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), challenges persist in retention in care, antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and follow-up of HIV-exposed infants, particularly postpartum. In Angola, qualitative evidence on women\u2019s lived experiences remains limited.\nAim: To explore the experiences of HIV-positive postpartum women and identify opportunities to strengthen PMTCT services in Angola.\nSetting: The study was conducted at Lucr\u00e9cia Paim Maternity Hospital, a major maternal and child health referral centre in Luanda, Angola.\nMethods: A qualitative study with an experiential orientation informed by phenomenological sensitivity was conducted between April 2025 and July 2025. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 women up to 6 months postpartum, recruited through purposeful sampling from institutional records. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke, supported by qualitative data analysis (MAXQDA) software.\nResults: Four themes emerged: discovery and acceptance of diagnosis, marked by emotional distress and gradual adaptation; pregnancy and childbirth, characterised by supportive care and episodes of stigmatisation; postpartum and baby care, involving heightened responsibility and challenges with medication and infant feeding; and infant testing, experienced with anxiety until confirmation of serological status. Post hoc comparisons by age group and partner status suggested variations in psychosocial needs and care experiences.\nConclusion: Postpartum PMTCT is influenced by emotional, relational and institutional determinants affecting continuity of care. Strengthening integrated, woman-centred models with psychosocial support, consistent communication and stigma reduction is essential.\nContribution: This study provides context-specific qualitative evidence to improve postpartum PMTCT services in Angola and similar settings.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.4102\/phcfm.v18i1.5471","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,22]],"date-time":"2026-07-22T07:59:46Z","timestamp":1784707186000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4102\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Experiences of human immunodeficiency virus-positive postpartum women in Angola: Challenges and opportunities in preventing vertical transmission"],"prefix":"10.4102","volume":"18","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1904-1104","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Paulo N.","family":"Solari","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"NOVA University Lisbon"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9413-6173","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Joana C.","family":"Pires","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"NOVA University Lisbon"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0074-7732","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Pedro M.","family":"Aguiar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"NOVA University Lisbon"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4722-3282","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ana R.","family":"Goes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"NOVA University Lisbon"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1383-1319","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gon\u00e7alo F.","family":"Augusto","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"NOVA University Lisbon"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"2580","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,23]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref0","unstructured":"UNAIDS. 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