Making Decisions in Pregnancy About HIV Testing and Treatment: The Experience of Burmese Migrant Women in Northern Thailand

This chapter presents a number of case studies which will be discussed to illustrate the decision-making processes for migrant women when considering HIV testing and treatment in pregnancy. The case studies are drawn from research which was conducted among 38 Burmese migrant pregnant women and 26 health-care workers in the Thai-Burmese border provinces in the northern part of Thailand during 2008 and 2009. With its high rate of HIV infections and high numbers of Burmese migrants, this area was selected in order to access the desired group of participants. The complex issues that surround decisions to accept or refuse HIV testing and treatment are presented from the point of view of women and also the health-care workers who are engaged in caring for them in the antenatal period. We make suggestions for improved communication and information sharing to enable the women to be actively involved in decisions at this time.