Prevention of vertical mother-to-child transmission of HIV: care and adhesion provided by couples.

Objective: to unveil the existential movement of a couple when performing vertical HIV transmission prophylaxis. Method: qualitative research, using Martin Heidegger’s phenomenological approach. A phenomenological interview was conducted with 14 participants between December/2011 and February/2012 in the outpatient facilities of an university hospital, Brazil. A comprehensive and interpretative heideggerian analysis was developed. Results: the couple understands that they have followed the guidance of the health professionals as indicated. By not being able to breastfeed, the woman did not fail to be a mother, but it was also not a complete experience. The senses of the occupation of the couple-being unfolded to the prophylactic treatment and facticity due to the fact of not breastfeeding. Conclusion: we indicate the need to rethink care, proposing a working relationship that transcends the impersonal that dictates about what the couple must deal with, enabling their active participation in care decisions and actions.