One of the major ethical issues that relates to contemporary healthcare is that of women's reproductive rights. This has become an important issue as it also relates to the ethical problematic s of treating HIV/AIDS patients. The intersection between women's reproductive rights, AIDS and healthcare has become a focal point of research and medical studies due to the sensitive and often complex nature of these issues. The focus on the ethics of women's reproductive right has also intensified in recent years due to the increase in the number of HIV/AIDS cases, particularly in developing countries. Healthcare and nursing organizations are therefore facing a problem that is growing at an alarming rate. The statistics on AIDS indicates that". the treatment and prevention of HIV pose not only a huge challenge to medical care, social resources, state finances and policies, but also confront the present ethics and human rights debate with a serious moral dilemma." ( Vorster J.M. 2003. p.345) .

             Coupled with the above statistics is the fact that many studies show that women and children have shown the most significant growth in the incidence of HIV/AIDS. The issue of reproductive rights for women is in itself as complex and convoluted area of moral ethical as well as legal discourse as it is also linked to other contentious ethical issues such as sexual and gender rights. .

             A definition of reproductive rights is as follows: .

             Reproductive rights include the rights of all individuals to control over their own bodies, to have sex that is consensual, free from violence and coercion, and to enter marriage with the free and full consent of both parties. Reproductive rights are essential for women's exercise of their right to health. Women's reproductive rights concern the freedom that women must have to express their sexuality with dignity.

             (What are women's reproductive rights?).

             Reproductive rights therefore refer to the fact that both males and females have the right to determine the reproductive process and child‑rearing in all aspects and "The right to make decisions about reproduction must be free from discrimination, force and violence.