Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) continues to be a major public health problem locally,
regionally and internationally (Arron, 2007). Global UNAIDS 2013 report stated that 35, 5-
38, 8 million people were living with HIV by December 2012 and approximately 60% of
them being women. HIV prevalence among women aged 15-49 years in Zimbabwe is 16.4%,
Avert Zimbabwe (2014) reported. Zimbabwe like any other countries which adopted the June
2013 WHO new integrated HIV treatment guidelines recommending lifelong antiretroviral
therapy Option B+ for all HIV positive pregnant women and lactating mothers for their own
health and prevention of mother to child transmission. Culture, socioeconomic status, and
religion have left HIV positive pregnant women vulnerable to inability in accessing health
care services. The purpose of this research was to determine the relationship between
empowerment and self-care among HIV positive pregnant women aged 15-49 years at
Morgenster Mission Hospital Antenatal Clinic in Masvingo Province. The study utilised
Orem’s self care model. A quantitative descriptive correlation design was used in the study,
whichdescribes the relationship between variables only without exploring cause and effect
relationships. A sample of 96 HIV positive pregnant women aged 15-49 years was selected
conveniently. A structured interview schedule was used for data collection after a pre-run of
the study instrument for validity and reliability. The questionnaire had closed and open ended
questions which took 15 to 20 minutes to answer. Data was analysed using the statistical
package for Social Science (SPSS -PC). The research questions were analysed using
descriptive and inferential statistics. Linear regression analysis was used to test the strength
of the relationship between empowerment and self care. Only 32 (33.3%) were empowered
and 31 (31.3% could self care.