Table 2.

Positive and negative attitudes about childbearing among HIV-discordant couples

Positive attitudes	Importance of fertility	“Those who are [HIV] affected should have children. Without the child, there is no happiness in the family. You will have a house and cars but without the child, you won't be happy … I therefore believe these people should have children.” [Female, age 24, HIV-affected relationship, community leader FGD]
	Relationship strengthening	“It [safer conception strategies] will add a positive impact in that it will promote marriages. They will tend to have children who are free from HIV. Secondly, it will promote faithfulness.” [Female, age 23, not in HIV-affected relationship, youth FGD]
	Right to have children	“For those who have the information they will accept that it's their right as human beings to give birth.” [Male, age 19, HIV-affected relationship, community leader FGD]
Negative attitudes	Fear of transmission	“I think that the perceptions people have out here is that HIV-infected persons should not have children. One is because of the fear that the child they are going to have is going to be infected, so the major fear is transmission to the child and I think that has held them back from having children.” [Male, age 30, not in HIV-affected relationship, IDI]
	Stigma against HIV	“However, there are people who don't view those who are HIV positive as human beings. When a woman is pregnant and positive at the same time, people will say that the woman is pregnant and sick at the same time. Why must she bother herself with getting children?” [Female, age 48, HIV-affected relationship, community leader FGD]
	Lack of information	“I would also be happy if this information reaches people in the community. Once the information reaches the village, they will have the knowledge on HIV/AIDS … This [discrimination] is happening because people lack information. Things will change if you pass the right information to these people.” [Female, age 48, not in HIV-affected relationship, women FGD]