In the first instance, the female doctor barely counselled the patient on her choice. I was immediately defiant. I thought that she was failing in her duties as a physician. In my opinion, being HIV positive was not enough of a reason to terminate a pregnancy.

The resident then had two subsequent encounters with the couple. In the first, she unconvincingly stated that they had a good chance of having a healthy baby. This left the HIV-positive woman feeling angrier and me, still disappointed. Finally, in a breakthrough moment for the character of the female doctor, she informed the couple that with the correct treatment they had a 98 per cent chance of having a healthy HIV-negative baby.

In fact, the chance of an HIV-positive woman transmitting her infection to her baby can be reduced from 25 per cent to less than one per cent (in some populations) with appropriate medical and obstetric treatment. I was satisfied and pleased with the ultimate portrayal of this doctor.

Developed pneumonia

I now think back on my own experiences in taking care of HIV-positive pregnant women. I vividly remember one such patient while working in the United States of America. Although HIV positive, she was otherwise a healthy, pregnant woman. However, during her pregnancy she developed a specific type of pneumonia, which meant that she now had AIDS.

With medication and a caesarean delivery, she had a healthy HIV-negative baby. Although I had discussed contraceptive methods with her, within two years she was pregnant again. This time she was much sicker; she hardly looked like the same person. I was concerned that she would not live through her pregnancy, but with medications she pulled through and had her baby. Since I left that position, I am not aware of whether she was able to survive the illness.

Women at higher risk

Three years ago, the World Health Organisation estimated that over 17 million women were infected with HIV. The majority of HIV infections in teenagers and adults are transmitted by heterosexual relations and social and biological factors make women very susceptible to this infection. Some sources suggest that in some regions, women are four times more likely to get HIV from men than the converse.

Women are at higher risk of being infected with HIV if they have another sexually transmitted infection such as genital herpes or syphilis, use alcohol or illegal drugs, such as 'crack' or cocaine, had been sexually abused as a child or are currently in an abusive relationship.

Economic and social inequalities between men and women also affect the rate of HIV in women. Unfortunately, the Caribbean is second only to Africa in the prevalence of HIV. In 2005, 25,000 Jamaicans were estimated to have HIV. An estimated 28 per cent of this number were women between the ages of 15 and 49.

Know your status

It is important that all women should know their HIV status. If they are not infected, preventive measures, such as abstinence, condom use and reducing the number of sexual partners can help. Women need to have frank discussions with their partners about HIV and insist that they be tested. For women who may be in abusive relationships, organisations, such as the Women's Crisis Centre, can help.

For an HIV-positive woman, appropriate treatment can extend her life by more than 20 years and it is still very possible for her to not only give birth to a healthy HIV-negative child, but to see that child grow up. Take heart, even if you are a victim of this disease, it does not have to victimise you.