pregnant. Olivia wanted to have an abortion, but the doctor said that she was too far along in her pregnancy and could not have an abortion. At that point she started feeling scared.

Olivia was immediately placed on ZDV and informed that the ZDV was to benefit the baby's health. She was very compliant with treatment and kept every appointment. Her baby is negative.

Her partner's family reacted negatively because of her status. She, however, was not afraid to tell her own family and receives strong support from her family, which she attributes to the family's closeness. When Olivia's younger niece worries that Olivia would die and would not be able to take care of the baby or that the baby would die, Olivia responds, "You just have to pray."

She is now on triple therapy and Prozac because of her depression.

Tina who is six months pregnant, originally grew up in Puerto Rico and was probably infected there by an abusive boyfriend who later died of AIDS. After being tested while still living in Puerto Rico, a nurse called to say "you have to come down. It doesn't look good." She hung up, and did not get retested until after moving to San Antonio.

After complaining about migraines, she was admitted to the hospital, where it was determined that she was pregnant. For her prenatal care, she visited the health department and found out that she was 2 weeks pregnant and had HIV. She began to cry upon receipt of the news, but the physician comforted her by saying that "a positive status doesn't mean you're going to die." This gave Tina some hope.

Tina told her cousin about her HIV status, and her cousin told her whole family. Her family was not supportive, and Tina felt they were treating her like "trash." Her father, though, was very supportive.

Tina's partner also attended the meeting and reported that Puerto Rico is backwards compared to the United States in HIV care and understanding of the disease. HIV patients are not treated with dignity and there is condescension of the lifestyle these patients have led. Most people, he thinks, believe, "You did it, you deserve it."

Tina did not know that medications can help her baby until she saw her partner taking his medication.

She does not like being pushed and if testing were mandatory, she would go somewhere else for prenatal care.

Representing the committee were Katherine Luzuriaga and Stephen Thomas and IOM staff were Michael Stoto (study director) and Donna Almario.