This study is an attempt to investigate the knowledge that pregnant women have about vertical transmission, the risk of the fetus, and the significance of the seropositive result that identifies her as infected by HIV. The exploratory research of a qualitative nature was carried out in Health Units in the city of São Leopoldo/RS. The analysis captured the perception of 63 pregnant women between the ages of 16 and 40 about the reasons and the significance of the test, their knowledge and everyday experiences, and the perspectives and care with the baby. The results raise an alert for medical professionals in the pre-natal area as to their need to meet a complexity of situations that emerge when pregnancy occurs with an AIDS patient.
AIDS; HIV; vertical transmission; pregnancy